Trainspotting : Opening

sequence
Megan Lawrence, Blake Challenger,
Alice Percy

Synopsis of opening scene

The scene begins with two unknown males , in their
mid 20s, running from another two male figures
with authority above them. Whilst theyre running
numerous items fall from their coat pockets. The
whole opening sequence is backed with a narrative
and music which juxtaposes what is shown on the
screen. The camera then follows only one of the
men and shows fast paced editing of montages of
Rentons life, not giving away too many hints but
creating enigma to entice the audience. The scene
ends with the lead male passed out (or possibly
dead) after smoking heroin.

CAMERA
Varied amount of shots, keeps the sequence fast
paced [fast paced cuts]
The main character Renton constantly is looking
straight into the camera it makes it feel like he
is looking directly to the audience
When he falls towards the end the camera is at a
low angle shot. This makes the audience feel as if
thy are catching him; showing how he has no
support in his life.
Medium shot of Renton once he is on the floor
with smoke pouring out of his mouth. Smoke
looks as if his soul is leaving his body slowly. The
medium shot could represent Renton being half
dead.

Audio
At the beginning the music is fast paced to set the
scene the same music is used throughout the entire
opening scene. It could be seen as representing a
heartbeat.
Narrative backs this up as it begins also fast paced.
The narrator begins to swear showing his agitation the
longer the sequence lasts.
Hyperbolic sounds are used when the car stops
right in front of Renton, this is to emphasize how close
he could have been to a potential fatality. This is
followed by a surprised laugh which could mean how
have I got away again?!
Towards the ending there is a distinctive pause in the
narrative and music, this slows down the pace
foreshadowing death(?)

Visual
Setting/costume: Begins in a rich city the two
males juxtapose the area and stick out like a sore
thumb in how they are dressed, they are wearing
shabby/tacky dark coloured jumpers.
Mis-en-scene: As they are running away they run
further into a scummy area reflecting their lives and
how they have gotten themselves deeper into poverty.
Props: When running away item after item
(emphasised) fall out of Rentons jumper displaying
how little he has and what lengths he will go to for
luxury.
Mis-en-scene: In the last section Renton is in a fire
coloured run down room. The fire colours that the
room is decorated in appear hell-like and the holes in
the walls could portray the holes he has created in his
mind through using heroin. A number of chairs are
lined up against the wall showing that Renton is not
the only one who lives his life in this way

Pictures

This screenshot from the film

looks like his soul is leaving
his body to find a new life as
his current life isn't worth
living. However, he doesn't
die in this scene so it
suggests that whatever he
does he cant escape from his

This picture is of Renton in a

room that looks battered and
destroyed. The room reflects
Rentons mind, it has gaps in it
and its damaged. The colour
of the walls are red, orange
and yellow which looks like
fire so it suggests that he's in

Todorov
This film does not support Todorovs
theory of narrative structure because
it starts of with a disruption and not
an equilibrium. This then links to the
opening sequence having an enigma
code because we don't know why
Renton and his acquittance is running
from which looks like security guards.
There' also another enigma code at
the end of the opening sequence as
we see Renton in a battered room,

Audience
The audience demographic for
'Trainspotting' would be straight,
white, British working class men
aged 15-30 because the film is
centred around the same sort of
person. Many young men would have
gone through the same thing as
Renton so they can connect to the
film better than other people. Th
socio-economic status of the target