Trainspotting

A Reflection Paper by Ace Alabanza: Trainspotting

Trainspotting is a British social realist film which depicts the life of Mark Renton and his circle of friends, leading us, the viewer, from the highs of hits to the lows of trying to get clean, ending with a drug deal and a final betrayal. This movie does not simply show the awful world of drug addiction, but hits us with comic points to break up the heavy content of inevitable self destruction.

The piece is narrated by the main character Mark Renton, a Scottish self confessed junkie, in first person. This method of narration involves us in the story by the principal character speaking directly to us, giving us the illusion of a real situation. Mark Renton is a heroin addict who loves the drug's effect; financing his habit also provides excitement and challenges that his life lacks.

In the Trainspotting film, the director encourages us, the viewers to become fascinated and captivated by the story. The reason why the director has made the film this way seems to be to break conventions of normal storytelling, making the movie seem more determined and interesting that a totally conventional set up.

The characters that are shown in this film are an example of the hidden underbelly of society. A lot of the characters traits are based around drug use, however among the group are those who do not do drugs but are nonetheless influenced by them.

The “choose life” line that this film is famous for is referenced throughout, with the characters not choosing life, but choosing an escape from it. It is a critique on a generation's mind set placed together with seamless editing and influential effects, creating a modern classic that will go down in history as one of the great social realist dramas of all time. I think that the director’s style choice to differ slightly from the totally normal model is metaphoric to the way a drug addicts life does not run in strict order, the frame placement is slightly different as the subjects lives are also.