Danny Boyle
Focus on British Representation & British Cinema.
Poll Tax:
Introduced in 1989 in Scotland and in 1990 in England and Wales. It was introduced in Scotland first because is was not a conservative area anyway so if it was unpopular they wouldn't lose votes. Poll tax was a fixed tax per adult resident for services rendered by the community regardless of income. This caused major administrative problems because every person in the household had to be identified. This was especially a problem in shared or student housing. In 1991after Thatcher was replaced this was replaced by Council Tax which is still in place today.
Thatcher's Government:
This was unpopular in Scotland because, in general, Scotland wasn't a conservative area. Majority of the area was populated by manual labourers who tended to vote labour due to their policies being more in favour of them.
Misunderstanding regarding AIDS and HIV. If you were gay or a drug addict it was assumed you had AIDS and villainised them. It wasn't really understood hence there was a deep fear surrounding it. More into the 1990s safe sex became more prevalent as there was a fear surrounding these STIs. Due to the pill being around though women could take control of their own sexuality.
Reflection of this in 'Trainspotting':
The way all of this is reflected in 'Trainspotting' is mainly through Renton's rant about Scottish people being "the lowest of the low" and being ruled over by the English. They express the English in a negative way and majority of the people within the film would be considered the 'Underclass'. The unemployed or manual labourers that wouldn't have as much money to pay tax on as the middle or upper classes of England. They don't like being Scottish because they don't like being controlled by the English who had a conservative government who generally looked after the wealthy and not the every day labourer. Therefore, as the 'Underclass' are the main representation in 'Trainspotting', their unhappiness and need for escapism are relevant to the social situations of the time. They didn't have enough money to live well but they had enough to get a cheap feel good.
Aesthetics of 'Trainspotting'
Conventions of Social Realism:
Social Realism is a genre of film that aims to show the audience about a social issue. To show the reality of it. Generally, these are based around money, drugs or religion. Drugs applies to 'Trainspotting'.
Social Class is a big convention of the Social Realism film genre. This is reflected in 'Trainspotting' by the presentation of the 'Underclass' of society. Majority of such films revolve around the under or working classes.
Another convention is the use of unprofessional or not well-known actors. At the time this does apply to 'Trainspotting' as it was at the start of Ewan McGregor's career and many of the other actor were relatively unknown. It also includes regional identities. this is very evident in the typical Scottish presentation of Begbie.
There can also be triumph over adversity which does apply to 'Trainspotting' but often, as well, there is an unhappy ending because, in reality, we don't always have a heppy ending.
Political Ideologies associated with Social Realism:
Generally left wing due to class representation.
Hyperrealism:
This is a technique used in 'Trainspotting' that goes beyond simple photorealism. Exaggerates the real. This is evident in 'Trainspotting' during the toilet sequence, the withdrawal sequence and the overdose sequence. Everything goes that one step further so it is obviously artificial. This is used to engage the audience and highlight the escapism of drugs. How it actually effects peoples' minds and how good it is yet also how bad. Too stylised to be real.
Ideologies to Focus On:
Masculinity and Femininity - objectification, stereotypes and iconography (James Bond)
Youth Culture - Diane's vs Renton's vs The Parents'
Drug Addicts
Scottish Society & City Life therein
Class
Escapism
Consumerism & Capitalism (Renton moves to London. Opening stealing from shops)
All must be discussed within context.
Narrative:
Binary Opposition of England vs Scotland
Opening Sequence:
Monologue about life sets the tone for the film. the theft they've committed and running from the law suggest they're morally corrupt yet their presence on the screen creates them as more protagonist than antagonist. Although drugs are involved "there are no reasons". They don't choose life, they choose escapism, but that Renton is telling you to choose life suggests he has hindsight already and that in the end he will choose life. He challenges the socially conditioned expectations for a middle class working family. The upbeat music also suggests that they're not actually in trouble or bad people. Shop lifting isn't a serious crime and that Renton laughs also shows that there's a half decent person beneath the addict and the theft. They lack jobs or opportunities for employment so instead they turn to theft to feed their drug habits.
This scene also introduces the symbol of the graffitied naked woman in the drug den. That they speak about James Bond makes them relatable. This is also an element of masculinity where he's only tied down by his job and sleeps with multiple women. Mother Superior's itself is also in itself symbolic as there is a red room where they shoot up and a green room where the baby is kept and/or where the exit is. The baby is arguably representative of the future and that it may still be bright ahead. There are constant contrasts between the relatable side and the innocent side of this film.
The whole voice-over explains that they don't like real life, normal life so they choose heroin. They reject the norm and act recklessly due to their class, unemployment and age. They mock people with 'ordinary lives'.
Begbie is introduced as an older character who doesn't approve of "putting that shit" in your body. However he is seen drinking whiskey, a pint and smoking. There is clear irony here as the combination of these could be nearly as harmful as heroin. Next introduced is Tommy who is following the socially conditioned life. He has a house and a steady girlfriend and dresses better. Yet he too smokes and drinks. They are in a bar while Renton and the others are in a drug den to show contrast here as well.
There's then a scene with Renton's parents who are disappointed in him but still don't stop his addiction. They are well lit while Renton is in more low-key lighting. There's the classic family set up of dinner at the table with the parents and the child. This is also very mundane. Everything in the mise-en-scene is dated with more 1950s décor than 1990s. It's clean but nothing modern which could show a lack of enjoyment in their lives. That they have a boring and mundane life ands this si what Renton is rejecting. Renton's back to us also shows this shunning of this lifestyle.
In the bar scene there is a strong intertextual reference in that the writing is taken from 'A Clockwork Orange' and the song playing is by a band who named themselves after the band in the bar scene in 'A Clockwork Orange'.
Bar Scene:
Gender roles and masculinity are explored here with the speech taking play between Spud and Tommy talking about sex. Spud says his girlfriend hasn't had sex with him because she "read it in Cosmopolitan". This was the first sex positive magazine and was one of thee very few outlets for women to base their relationships off.
In the bathroom there is also an intertextual reference of Jodie Foster in 'Taxi Driver' who has sex young. This serves as foreshadowing for Diane and her relationship with Renton. Renton is then seen in front of an image of the protagonist in 'Taxi Driver' showing his role in the relationship. He wants to become the alpha in the relationship but it dressed rather effeminately. This scene continues with the men and women excusing that they'd actually been talking with "Football" and "Shopping". Reverting to gender stereotypes.
There is a line-up with Renton and a load of other single men showing their predatory gaze on the women trying to get laid. Renton's voice-over again confirms this as his libido has "returned with a vengeance". His speech speed up as we receive a series of images with everyone of his friends kissing a woman. There's a music change when he spots Diane who isn't dancing and takes a drink off a guy before leaving. This shows her as completely in control and powerful. Everything Renton is not and this links to the rise of feminism in the 1990s.
Diane leaves the club dressed in red and surrounded by the red club. This connotes both danger and passion. She wears a sparkly dress which attracts the eye which again contrasts to Renton. She then delivers this speech that she knows exactly what he's about to say to try and get with her and exits into a taxi before asking him to come along. Again she is in control and witty. The song from the club carries through as a sound bridge for the rest of the scene where each pair is shown going off to have sex. Tommy and his girlfriend head for the sofa and evidently have done it before as they watch a sex tape of themselves while they go at it. Spud falls asleep and is said to not be missing much. Diane is on top and takes charge and they clearly both enjoy it.
Useful Clips for Analysis:
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