Trainspotting - Analysis

"Trainspotting" (1996)

Dir. Danny Boyle - Key Aspect Analysis - Isla Forrest

Synopsis

After many failed sobriety attempts, heroin addict Renton (Ewan McGregor) has become sober, and finally he's left his old life behind. But when his old friend Begbie (Robert Carlyle) arrives escaping from the police, Sick Boy (Johnny Lee Miller) arrives with an opportunity to make big money along with Spud (Ewen Bremmer). Renton has to choose whether to follow or to stay in the life of sobriety.

Categories - Purpose

It includes big names like Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlisle and Kelly McDonald.

It is based on the 1993 novel of the same name by Irvine Welsh.

To Entertain

It had a budget of £1.5 million and made £72 million internationally.

It was directed by Danny Boyle who is a highly successful director.

To Profit

Categories - Genre

"Trainspotting" (1996) is a dark comedy and drama film. It is based on Irvine Welsh's novel of the same name and has big names like Ewan McGregor and Robert Carlyle in it. This movie appeals to those who enjoy dark comedies and the original book by Irvine Welsh.

The film has many comedic moments like the famous scene in "The Worst Toilet in Scotland" which will forever have people laughing at how bizarre and confusing it is. Also Begbie trashing the hotel room after Renton runs away with all of the money. After Renton spends the night with Diane, he asks her parents at breakfast if they are her flatmates. In the club when the boys say they're talking about football and the girls say they're talking about shopping.

Tone - Comedy

The film has many emotional moments like Tommy dying after turning to heroin when his girlfriend broke up with him. Renton's speech about how horrible it is to be Scottish. When all the characters are in the pub after Spud got sentenced to jail and Renton got away free we see Spud's mum walk in and see them all joking and laughing. When baby Dawn dies and we see that Sick Boy was her father. Spud seeing Renton run away with the money but being too scared to tell Begbie.

Tone - Emotional

Narrative Structure - Todorov

New Equilibrium

Recognition

Equilibrium

Renton steals all of the money whilst they're all asleep and leaves to begin his new life away from them.

After a long time, Renton is finally sober and he's living his new life in London.

Renton decides to join them in the plan to get the money and then go his seperate way.

Attempt To Repair

Disruption

Begbie comes to London and Sick Boy follows with the chance to sell lots of heroin and split the money.

They do the deal and sell all of the heroin for £16,000 and agree to split the money 4 ways for £4000 each.

Representation - Begbie

Begbie (Robert Carlyle) is a very angry and violent man who is very unpredictable in what he's going to do next. This is shown in the bar when he throws his glass over the edge of the balcony and in the hotel room after Renton runs away with the money. Unlike most of the other characters, he doesn't do any illegal drugs but he still takes part in the plan to sell them in order to get money for them. However, he's not all in the clear as he runs away to London to live with Renton when he's wanted by the police for armed robbery back in Scotland.

Representation - Tommy

Tommy (Kevin McKidd) has more of a sense of doing right and has more morals, hence why he hadn't started doing heroin like his friends. Despite them all being addicts he's still friends with them because they all knew eachother in school. However, after his girlfriend breaks up with him he tries heroin and becomes addicted like his friends, becoming a shell of his former self.

Representation - Spud

Spud (Ewen Bremmer) is more of an innocent person and not starting fights like the others. Although he's an addict he's a loyal and good person especially when it comes to his friends. This is probably why Renton left Spud his share of the money at the end, he never did any wrong to deserve his money being taken away from him. Spud is a very comical and chaotic character, this is seen when he's in his job interview and when him and Renton are running away from the police after being caught stealing.

Language Key Scene 1 - The Worst Toilet In Scotland

Language Key Scene 2 - Running away from the police

Language Key Scene 3 - Renton locked in his bedroom

Got an idea?

Use this space to add awesome interactivity. Include text, images, videos, tables, PDFs... even interactive questions! Premium tip: Get information on how your audience interacts with your creation:

• Visit the Analytics settings;
• Activate user tracking;
• Let the communication flow!

Got an idea?

Use this space to add awesome interactivity. Include text, images, videos, tables, PDFs... even interactive questions! Premium tip: Get information on how your audience interacts with your creation:

• Visit the Analytics settings;
• Activate user tracking;
• Let the communication flow!

Got an idea?

Use this space to add awesome interactivity. Include text, images, videos, tables, PDFs... even interactive questions! Premium tip: Get information on how your audience interacts with your creation:

• Visit the Analytics settings;
• Activate user tracking;
• Let the communication flow!

Got an idea?

Use this space to add awesome interactivity. Include text, images, videos, tables, PDFs... even interactive questions! Premium tip: Get information on how your audience interacts with your creation:

• Visit the Analytics settings;
• Activate user tracking;
• Let the communication flow!

Got an idea?

Use this space to add awesome interactivity. Include text, images, videos, tables, PDFs... even interactive questions! Premium tip: Get information on how your audience interacts with your creation:

• Visit the Analytics settings;
• Activate user tracking;
• Let the communication flow!