Sound is used by director, Danny Boyle to add emotion to the narrative, for example in this scene, the song ‘Born slippy’ by underworld is quietly put over Renton’s anxious actions of stealing his mates money. This song, which Boyle found whilst looking through a record store also is meant to encompass who Renton is as a person. I feel as if this 90’s club type music accurately captures that as his personality feels like that lively energy you would accompany with a rave or nightclub.
Another scene which sound is used well can be seen in this scene just after the one above. A J-cut of Begbie’s shouting can be heard before it cuts to the next shot of him wrecking the hotel room.
Editing –
Editing is used heavily in Danny Boyles ‘Trainspotting’ to help pace the story, this can be demonstrated in the court scene where an Eyeline match is used to convey to the audience that the Judge is speaking directly to Renton, with the scene then cutting to his eyes looking at him conveying who he is speaking to.
Mise-en-scene –
The arrangement of props such as heroine needles and booze bottles in a rundown-looking apartment, chosen and placed about by the set designer creates an immersive shot composition for the films theme of drug and alcohol abuse.
Cinematography –
Danny Boyles use of cinematography is used to emphasise the impact of the content within a scene, this can be seen with when Renton turns to look at Begbie, a rack focus is used to demonstrate the shift of his attention.
Another example can seen with close up shots of Renton whenever he either taking or going through the effects of heroin.
Danny Boyle uses sound in Trainspotting during the nightclub scene, in which the audience see both the club itself where the men are sat, in comparison to the bathroom of the club where the women are speaking to each other. In the club, the music is so loud that it takes over as the primary audio source from the dialogue, leading to the use of subtitles. The bathroom, on the other hand, prioritises dialogue over music, as they are separated from the room where the music is at its loudest. This creates a contrast between the two settings for the audience.
Editing:
Boyle uses cuts in the scene where Renton overdoses and sinks into a carpet to switch between POV shots of what Mark can see while on heroin (with both sides of the sunken carpet taking up parts of the frame) and shots of what is actually happening.
Mise-en-scene:
In one of the final scenes of the film, the composition of this shot tells the audience that the offscreen damage to the room has been done by Begbie in addition to the further damage he does in this scene. The fact he is alone in the room further proves he is the one responsible.
Cinematography:
A worm’s eye view shot is used when London is first presented to the audience in the film, to reinforce its grandiose and high-class appearance in comparison to what is seen of Scotland.
The scene in which Mark cuts from playing football to him taking drugs utilises editing to connect and compare the seemingly ‘ordinary’ life of a young adult with that of a drug addict. As Mark falls after being hit by a football, the camera cuts to Mark falling after injecting himself with heroin; this sets the tone of the movie by depicting Marks dangerous relationship to drugs and how we, as the audience, are forced to connect the recreational action of playing football, to Marks use of drugs in a similarly recreational sense.
This scene leading up to the major drug deal involving the four main characters uses cinematography to evoke thought and feeling with the audience. This scene in particular is striking as it can easily be recognised as a copy of the Beatles, Abbey road cover. The Beatles are considered a iconic piece of British history in which we should be proud of, in the other hand, by replicating a parody of this album cover, the movie essentially comments on the aspects of Britain that aren’t so prideful, but are just as prominent: drugs.
The scene is which Mark struggles with quitting heroin is a pivitol scene in the movie. This scene contains sound that is contrapuntive to the contents of the scene. As the audiences see mark in pain, experiencing withdrawal from the drugs he abuses, they hear the intense techno music that appeared earlier in the club. This is done to convey the chaotic and racing state of Marks brain and how fast-paced and intense his heartbeat is.
To create a sinister tone leading up to the drug deal in the movie, the director uses mise-en-scene (in particular lighting) to amplify the tense nature of the scene itself. As we see the growing shadows on the wall, we establish a frightening and anxiety-inducing realisation of the danger they have put themselves in. By painting the actors as a eery, shadowy figure, we disconnect from the characters themselves, this is done to illustrate the seriousness of the scene.
Representation task
Trainspotting represents young people as irresponsible, although we are introduced to the character of Diane at a night club, it is later revealed she is still a school girl and doesn’t care about her illegal relations with Mark.
The representation of older people through Marks parents is important in trying to understand how the film views older people. Marks parents are classifies as typical Scottish parents, disapproving of all the ‘shite’ Mark shoots up into his veins, but actually show their true colours as selfish when Mark escaped prison time and Spud doesn’t.
Trainspotting represents the working class as people who are deceitful and untrustworthy, this is evident in Marks career as a salesperson, he takes advantage of wealthier people in order to earn more money in the long run. This could comment on how the working class are forced to play dirty just to survive.
The way in which Trainspotting chooses to represent Scottish people is key in understanding how drug culture plays a large part in Marks life. In this scene they are encouraged to walk through the incredible sights of Scotland, but instead are more interested in drinking and wallowing in the fact that they are Scottish. This could elude to the fact that some believe being Scottish is undesirable.
Trainspotting represents addicts as people who lie to themselves, this is evident in the countless times Mark promises to get clean, but eventually fails again and again, until an opportunity arises where he steals his friends money and starts a new life for himself. In the scene where Mark is locked in his room, forced to stay off drugs, he seemingly goes crazy, hallucinating his fried spud and a baby on the ceiling, this shows how the film wants to discourage those to try class A drugs and show the bad side of taking them and becoming addicted.
The way in which Trainspotting chooses to represent men, lies within this scene between mark and sick boy. troubled with boredom they resort to inflicting pain on others, including a dog. This could elude to the fact that men are considered more reckless and irresponsible.
The way women are represented in Trainspotting could be considered stereotypical, Lizzy is played as a highly emotional character with little personality. This could hint towards how the main characters (or stereotypically a lot of young men) view women as objects.
In the movie, young people are presented as more than irresponsible people who don’t care about life. As the main character Renton attempts to get off drugs as well as spud trying to get a job to earn more money. However they are still portrayed as ignorant as Rentons methods for getting clean are still harmful like taking other types of drugs. Therefore breaking the serteotype a little bit but still needs guidance.
Older people:
Older people are presented more traditionally in this film being more responsible and mature. Example Rentons parents know what is best for him and takes the correct action to get him off drugs.
Women:
The character of Diane breaks the stereotype of women being over ruled by men in the film. This can be seen by how she has the upper hand over Renton by threating to call the police having a higher sense of power than women are traditionally portrayed to have by having control over him.
Men:
Men in this movie are mostly stereotypical as almost all of the male characters have many masculine qualities. As seen through the the character Begbie who is overly aggressive constantly picking fights over small arguments.
Addicts:
In the movie. Addicts are shown to be seen sympathetically showing how getting over an addiction can be extremely challenging and how quickly their life can fall apart through their struggle. Example when sick boys baby dies. He is shown to be very upset over it showing how drugs have negatively impacted his life but still struggles to quit giving a wider view on how addicts really feel.
Scottish people:
In Trainspotting. The people of Scotland are portrayed as lower class compared to the rest of the world. This is seen by how the main chapter Renton sees England as a place for better opportunities as he moves there for a better job and at the end of the film. This is also seen in his rant about how much he hates being Scottish being less well off because of it.
