Trainspotting Task

Trainspotting-Two scene analysis:                                                                                 Kirsty Grewcock

“How does the aesthetic quality of ‘Trainspotting’ depict youth and drug addiction?”

Drug scene: 0:26 - 2:21

The aesthetic quality of ‘Trainspotting’ depicts the youth and drug addiction through the mise-en-scene. In the introduction of the film, with the Narrative of Renton (played by Ewan McGregor) the opening scene shows Renton and other main characters running from some security guards. Straight away, this shows that they are thieves and misfits of society. The non diegetic music has a quick beat to it, making a fast pace to watch, also creating tension. Jumping straight into the action or story, also a feature of chase conventions within film. The cuts are sharp and quick too, adding to the fast pace. 

As the narrative continues, a sense of irony is created as Renton describes all different types of achievements people have to do in society which is part of life-for example getting a job-whereas the shots and scenes don’t match up and going completely against the basic standards of achievements within society. Within this too, this also shows more information into Renton’s life and creates more of a personal insight to what his lifestyle consists of. Until the scene where he falls to the ground with parallel editing, showing him falling but in two different situations. At the football game and where he does drugs. The effect of parallel editing shows two events occurring at once. The non diegetic sound still contributes to the pace of the scenes, also emphasising the sharp and quick cut to a close up of Renton lying on the floor on a high, completely wiped out and controlled by the drugs. From the fast pace this happens suggested to me how much drugs has an impact on the human body and how fast the impact happens. To emphasise this further, the camera slowly pans across to the left showing the scale of the impact of the heroin Renton took as he is paralysed on the ground.

 After this, the camera movement slowly dollies out, revealing the mise-en-scene of the room surrounding Renton. The room is squalid as it is very dirty and an example of the type of housing the under class of society would live in. The rise-en-scene could also be seen as a metaphor, in the way the life style of Renton (or other people in the under class who take drugs) is reflected and impacts his whole life, adding to the level of social realism in the overall film as ‘Trainspotting’ creates a hyperrealism feel to the aesthetic of the film too. Examples of this are oversharing and going into depth about serious and real issues people in society face as it creates an extremity to the aesthetic, resulting in it to make the audience feel uneasy and difficult to watch, which I experienced when watching the film. The social realism is also effective in this film as politics has an impact on the film too, especially within the Scottish under class of society. The mise-en-scene reflects the impact of drugs but also the realistic struggle of poverty as in the time period (during the reign of Margret Thatcher) the government introduced a new law that everyone-no matter the class or income from their job-had to pay the Poll Tax. 

Club Scene: 19:24 - 23:56

The first shot of the sequence shows the mise-en-scene of a typical 1990s club. This is shown through the low key lighting, the clothing and fashion of the characters featured in the scene dancing in the initial shot and the diegetic sound demonstrating time period through the type and style of music. More specifically with the diegetic music, the type of song created a fast pace in the scene. The cuts are sharp also increasing the pace and overall rhythm of the scene. During the time period and stage society was at in, the discussion about sex wasn’t very frequent. Less so towards the 2000s but some people didn’t openly talk about sex. In a way, it was seen to be more valued compared to how people talk about sexual relationships now. Further into the sequence, two groups of people are talking about sexual relationships. A group of men and women. The shots are which shows that both of these events are happening at the same time. Both groups are talking about the topic however the women seem to have ‘the upper hand’ and to be in control of the situation as they have charge over the relationship. This is clearly shown as their decisions and actions have an impact on the men, who also discuss them. When both groups meet, the dialogue is,”What are you two talking about?

Football. What are you talking about?

Shopping.” This is significant as it shows the characters fitting into their basic stereotypes of their gender roles where in the previous scene, the women were in control and both groups were hiding what they were actually discussing. 

After this, the camera goes back to Renton. He is in a group of people at the side of the club with no partner. I interpreted this to represent all the people who ‘didn’t choose life’. Instead, they are on the sides of society, at the bottom of the pile on the corporate ladder. I also thought this as no one of a higher class would be found in that sort of setting. The people found in the club demonstrate the under and working class of the 90s in Scotland as the people in the crowd in the scene are all surrounding Renton who are either drinking or smoking. This implies the drug use. The mise-en-scene also suggests this as they aren’t well dressed or presented. The lighting in this group consists of really low key lighting, creating a contrast where the camera shots show the colourful and bold club lights towards the centre of the room who appear to be happier. My personal response was that this demonstrated a metaphor of the individual characters life style too. 

When Renton is in this crowd, he sees couples everywhere. The diegetic sound in the scene creates pace and also creates the feel of urgency. He steps away from the crowd in a fast outwards dolly. I also felt that this represented change and him wanting to do something new in his life, like getting into a relationship, which was symbolised as he walks away from the people also suggesting that the group of people represent his current lifestyle and intentions. Other men in the 90s would be doing the same in the club. The actions of Renton don’t just show the storyline of ‘Trainspotting’, he represents the social realism issues of the Scottish youth under class during the 1990s whether that was the struggles with money, drugs or generally fitting and finding a place in society, heavily influenced and controlled by politics and the government in the time period.