Trainspotting Analysis

I am going to analyse the British Film 'Trainspotting' as the opening of this film I find very entertaining and interesting. The effects used throughout is something I definitely want to take inspiration from for my own project.




Trainspotting is an independent British drama film directed by Danny Boyle. Trainspotting was released in 1996, adapted from Irvine Welsh’s first novel “Trainspotting” due to the directors perception of Scotland’s social, economic and political troubles going out of control in the 1990′s and this shows how British film uses very realistic scenarios and places to get the point across.

We begin the opening sequence with a black background with the writing- Channel four films presents. 

The opening of this film is very fast paced.There is immediately a running scene, showing signs of panic. It gives the impression that the people are in some sort of trouble and are running away, avoiding being caught. The low point of view shot focusing on their feet highlights the idea that they are in a rush.

The camera then switches to medium close up shot of Marks face and this gives a facial expression of someone out of breath. This also shows the audience that they are running away fast. hi facial expression also shows that he may be panicking. The clothes that the characters are dressed in are very informal and scruffy. This represents their social status of being low working class. The scenery also shows this as they are running along a street in a city full of shops and building construction. As they run there is rubbish all over the pavement which also supports he idea of low class living.

Throughout the opening the character wears unwashed clothes, this definitely has a reflection the lifestyle he has. It immediately shows that he does not look after self properly and gives idea about the rest of the film.This also is shown by the other characters.

Throughout the opening, the music played over the top is very fast paced which adds to the effect of the running scene. The song Lust for life by Iggy Pop adds to the rush of adrenaline that is created at the very beginning, there isn't a moment where the pace slows down in the opening and this is as the quickness of the tempo from music gives the idea to the audience that something major might be about to take place.

Right at the beginning of the opening, there is a voice over by the main character and continues throughout the entire opening sequence. This indicates straight away that he is the main character in the film. Emphasising his importance in the film. The majority of the shots are focused on him which also shows his importance

This medium shot of Renton smoking a spliff immediately shows us that he is a drug user and also explains why they were running at the beginning giving the impression that they tenf to be in trouble often. The room he is stood in looks rough and very poor. The walls have damp on and the wallpaper is old and ruined, which also shows that he and his friends live in a very low poor class of life. His appearance also shows this, his clothes look old and unwashed and he looks very washed out, due to all the drug intake.

This wide shot of the entire room he is in, emphasizes the poverty he lives in. The floorboards are old looking and dirty. The appearance of the room represents the characters personality and that he doesn't care. 

The appearance of both sides is completely different. Renton  and his friends aren;t dressed appropriately for playing football. Dressed in ordinary clothes, and trainers. However the opponents are dressed in football strips and football boots. This may represent the idea that they cannot afford football strips and boots due to the lack of money. The way that they are stood shows they aren't taking it seriously compared to the opponents.

The freezeframe of 'Sick Boy' shows quite an angry shot of him. Giving the impression that his personality may be similar. His name isn't very appealing, which also may be why.

This particular scene also shows him and his friends personality, as they are messing around while the other team are being deadly serious about football.

This shot of the character Spud of him coming across as quiet a simple character. He isn't very bright and the shot of him struggling to defend the goal shows this.

The name Spud also describes him as a person and how he is dumb and quite stupid. The idea that he is wearing his underpants also represents this.

Here is a mid shot of some girls who look as if they are the girlfriends of the men. They are shouting which makes them look quite common. They all look quite young aged. One of them is smoking and the other is carrying a baby which doesn't come across quite well to others and gives an impression of working class life.

This low angle shot of the behinds of the characters highlights the clothes they have on and the idea that they are quite rough looking. It also shows the audience that the are about to be hit by the ball.

Here in these two shots we see Renton get hit in the head with the football then the shot switches to him falling back taking a draw from a spliff. This gives the audience the idea that the feeling of both is exactly the same. It shows that he is addicted to the feeling.

During all of these shots it shows the main character falling at different places doing different things. When Renton gets hit by the ball, the scene switches to him falling backwards by getting hit by the ball, and falling backwards when he is smoking a cigarette. This is a very clever switch. The reason why this happens is because the football scene is representing his fall. The scenes emerge within each other and immediately he slams the ground on both scenes, representing his lifestyle immediately.