Micro-elements

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.