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Trainspotting Revision - Coggle Diagram
Trainspotting Revision
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Characters
Renton (Ewan McGregor) - Nihilistic, Addicted, Redemption
Begbie (Robert Carlyle) - Angry, Selfish, Greedy
Tommy (Kevin McKidd) - Innocent, Downward Spiral, Tragic
Diane (Kelly MacDonald) - Level Headed, Manipulative, Strong
Contexts
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Black Comedy Drama, with elements of crime and coming of age genres
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It was inspired by Irvine Welsh's 1993 Novel "Trainspotting" - Explored the drug-fueled underworld of Edinburgh following a group of young heroin addicts.
Nominated for two British Academy Awards - Best British Film and John Hodge for Best Adapted Screenplay which they won
Produced by Film4 - reflect British Cultures and Attitudes, evident in Trainspotting - Known for some controversial and mainstream films
Key Scenes
Opening
Starts off with voiceover from Renton as we see a mid shot of him and Spud running away (Media Res) - Choose Life, Choose a big fucking telly etc. - Immediately shows the nihilistic ideologies and the challenge to consumerism
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Freeze frame editing used along with inter titles to introduce each of the main characters - Again shows the postmodernism of the film
"I chose not to choose life, I chose heroin" shows nihilism again and also presents the plight of the drug-fueled underworld of Edinburgh
MIse en scene of Renton's drug den denotes a very grotty, filthy and unsavoury atmosphere connoting the pure plight of the drug epidemic in the 1990s in Scotland
Montage editing of the main characters including tracking shots and match cuts of Renton falling over from the football game to his drug den - potentially shows the rejection of society and the acceptance of drugs
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Crab shot used to show the POV of the baby in the drug den - makes the audience feel sorry for it and gain a visceral reaction
Ending
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Canted angle of Renton stepping over the camera almost walking over the audience and showing his new life
High angle shot of Begbie destroying the apartment after finding out Renton took the money - shows his attitudes haven't changed unlike Renton
Mid shot/POV shot of Spud finding the safe with money saved over for him - gets rewarded for his good behaviour throughout the film unlike Begbie showing the message that bad things happen to bad people
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Voiceover - "I'm a bad person, I'm gonna change" Facial expressions show him at his happiest throughout the film
"I'm choosing life" Circular narrative and resolution for Renton's character as he abandons his nihilistic attitudes - "I'm gonna be just like you" direct address to the spectator
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Narrative
Formalist Theory - Formalist Film Theory looks at the technical aspects of film — shots, editing, lighting, sound. Thus, formalists are concerned about how these elements work (or do not work) to create impact on the viewer. Simply put, formalism focuses heavily on how the style of a production communicates an intended message.
Structuralist - Structuralist Film Theory states that there is a basic underlying structure to film. By comparing patterns and relationships of the structure within a single film, and between several films, we can better understand meaning. Structuralism focuses on recurring themes as well as the use of signs, symbols, and conventions to interpret film. Consider the narrative sequencing of a film. The order of shots. The order in which the narrative is told.
Film Form
Cinematography
Low level camera movement and framing communicates a sense of a life limited perspectives and ambition
The first of a number of Renton's overdose POVs - having surreally sunk into the fleshy carpet and lost touch with reality
London, a long shot and homage to the Beatles Abbey Road photo
Mise en scene
The shabby brown tones of a dilapidated junky drug den perfectly communicated through set design, costume and colour palette. However, this is not social realism but rather hyperrealism
Editing
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Jump cutting during Spud's awkward hyperactive interview working with the sparse mise en scene and claustrophobic set to create a comic effect
The cross cutting between Tommy and his girlfriend making love and Renton's one night stand is comedic. As Renton orgasms he notes, "I haven't felt that good since Archie Gammel scored against Holland in 1978" We then see the goal, the same goal in which Tommy is bemusedly watching. However, this comic scene actually ends in Tommy getting dumped, becoming an addict and dying of AIDS. All of this due to Renton's selfish and childish acts
Sound
Music - Chronological in its appearance in the film and often having some narrative importance in terms of commentating on scenes rather than merely accompanying them
Renton's voiceover - Throughout the film Renton narrates and his acerbic, cynical, foul mouthed and resigned delivery perfectly captures the exhaustion of Gen X