Trainspotting
How does the aesthetic quality of Trainspotting depict ideological issues of Youth and Addiction?
Trainspotting shows addiction (Heroin addiction) in a way that could terrify the Youth watching the film, as it is not glamourized at all, it gives a realistic representation of what it takes and what it is like to be a Heroin addict. The Opening scene is the first idea of heroin usage and how it makes the characters feel, With Renton's, our main character, opening monologue he lists all the ideological things that people his age would choose and how they would life "Choose life, choose a job, choose a career...". At the ending of this monologue he ends it with "I chose not to choose life, I chose something else, and the reasons there are no reasons. Who needs reason when you got heroin", It shows in the younger generation during the 90's they decide to choose using drugs and have that take over their life then trying to make a success or a career for themselves. The actor that plays Renton , Ewan McGregor, tried to get inside the mind of a Heroin addict by visiting and talking to heroin addicts in the celtic recovery group in Glasgow, he was able to learn what the mind of one was like and also was taught how to cook up heroin himself, but the real drug wasn't used in the film. It is described to be "better then sex" and it feels like an "ever lasting orgasm" and this again will relate with the younger generation with them having a lot of sex whenever and with whoever they please to. AIDS was a big issue throughout the 1990's so it holds key importance and context throughout this film and anyone was able to get it, with the characters being heroin addicts it is to be ideal that they get it but this isn't the case as we learn later in the film.
We explore the are that Renton lives in and where he takes Heroin and as expected its dirty and run down, with ideological beliefs, people that take drugs and ones as extreme to heroin it is expected of them to live in such run down almost lower class style of living so its no surprise that the building is all falling apart and grubby compared to other living areas and places. Trainspotting breaks away from traditional social realism in representation drug addiction in the UK, its a hyperreal film and goes being the general photography and editing and transforms it into what a drug addict would see and almost film to make the audience feel the same way. In Renton's home we see colour difference in the rooms and there is a contrast. There is a red room, this usually symbolise a place of sex however this is where they are taking heroin and smoking, this could represent the danger and the harm that they are influencing towards themselves but also reflects on the sex as that is how it feels like to take a hit from heroin, but the other room is where the baby is in and this is a green room, this could show the good things in their life and the safety the child is under with not being around the adults, or it could represent sickness which is what addicts become with constant substance abuse.
We can see obvious editing, proper camera work, so minimal is hand held, non-diegetic music and voice overs. This is what makes it different to being a classical British film as they generally have a documentary feel towards the camera being hand held, but Trainspotting is different. Editing in the opening scene is something to be picked up on, as it is an introduction towards the characters of the film, its a sequence cut between three different locations and the audience may believe this is parallel action between parts of the film but due to Renton being in all 3 scenes that is not the case. We also see the editing effects of slow motion during the times Renton is seen to be taking a hit of heroin, it gives a visual representation of what it is like to have a hit, everything is distorted, the fear of what could happen and the pain when it hits your system and can affect your friends and family around you. The character of Renton and what his life is like due to his heroin addiction can become relatable to audiences at home due to either they have gone through addiction or they have someone in there family or friendship group go through this and understand the emotions and the distress it can bring to other people as it is seen in a horrific and un-glamourized way it shows the raw danger and scenery that it can bring.
Another scene where we are able to identify the rawness of Heroin addiction if when Renton's Overdose scene. This is the most graphic and surreal scene the audience will experience and potentially get close to the inside would of heroin addiction as it holds one of the most memorable editing and shots throughout the film. We are able to see Renton's blood go inside the needle mix with the heroin then go back into Renton's system, this shot is seen inside the valve of the needle and we see all the dirty and disgusting parts of heroin inside it. A fake arm was used to make it appear that he was actually injecting himself and it was filled with pockets of blood. Non-diegetic music plays throughout this scene and its Lou Reeds "A perfect day", this would be ironic and doesn't go with the scene being played as Renton has just overdosed and is dying throughout this scene.
We see Renton fall down the gap in the floor inbetween the carpet and gives the vision as if he is being buried at a funeral as it has the narrow vision and gap for people to down at him due to his heroin addiction, being shot at a low angle is common throughout the film as it tends to represents the places where heroin end up, on the floor, so having him fall through the floor and appear to be six feet under is an adaption for the low angle. The majority of the scene is shot like this as it reflects Rentons potential fate if he doesn't get the help he needs, this would also support ideological beliefs of heroin addicts as they end up six feet under due to the way they live and if they lack care of themselves and their system its a terrible fate and cause for them and the people around them. We don't see a lot of a bright aesthetic throughout the film, it mainly contains a grainy dark feel with the majority of the colour scheme being browns and greys, it almost mirrors how they look due to addiction as with the consumption of heroin is effects your appearance and shows discolouration in the skin. With how raw Trainspotting is when is comes to showing heroin addiction it almost collaborates and shows the reality of what it is like and what it means to go through addiction, but its not only heroin addiction shown in the film, addiction to; sex, smoking, alcohol, running away, it holds hidden messages that everyone is addicted to something and have different ways of handling it and dealing with their issues, it contributes with the ideology of heroin and how it has different perspectives but you go into the mind of a heroin addict.
Trainspotting shows addiction (Heroin addiction) in a way that could terrify the Youth watching the film, as it is not glamourized at all, it gives a realistic representation of what it takes and what it is like to be a Heroin addict. The Opening scene is the first idea of heroin usage and how it makes the characters feel, With Renton's, our main character, opening monologue he lists all the ideological things that people his age would choose and how they would life "Choose life, choose a job, choose a career...". At the ending of this monologue he ends it with "I chose not to choose life, I chose something else, and the reasons there are no reasons. Who needs reason when you got heroin", It shows in the younger generation during the 90's they decide to choose using drugs and have that take over their life then trying to make a success or a career for themselves. The actor that plays Renton , Ewan McGregor, tried to get inside the mind of a Heroin addict by visiting and talking to heroin addicts in the celtic recovery group in Glasgow, he was able to learn what the mind of one was like and also was taught how to cook up heroin himself, but the real drug wasn't used in the film. It is described to be "better then sex" and it feels like an "ever lasting orgasm" and this again will relate with the younger generation with them having a lot of sex whenever and with whoever they please to. AIDS was a big issue throughout the 1990's so it holds key importance and context throughout this film and anyone was able to get it, with the characters being heroin addicts it is to be ideal that they get it but this isn't the case as we learn later in the film.
We explore the are that Renton lives in and where he takes Heroin and as expected its dirty and run down, with ideological beliefs, people that take drugs and ones as extreme to heroin it is expected of them to live in such run down almost lower class style of living so its no surprise that the building is all falling apart and grubby compared to other living areas and places. Trainspotting breaks away from traditional social realism in representation drug addiction in the UK, its a hyperreal film and goes being the general photography and editing and transforms it into what a drug addict would see and almost film to make the audience feel the same way. In Renton's home we see colour difference in the rooms and there is a contrast. There is a red room, this usually symbolise a place of sex however this is where they are taking heroin and smoking, this could represent the danger and the harm that they are influencing towards themselves but also reflects on the sex as that is how it feels like to take a hit from heroin, but the other room is where the baby is in and this is a green room, this could show the good things in their life and the safety the child is under with not being around the adults, or it could represent sickness which is what addicts become with constant substance abuse.
We can see obvious editing, proper camera work, so minimal is hand held, non-diegetic music and voice overs. This is what makes it different to being a classical British film as they generally have a documentary feel towards the camera being hand held, but Trainspotting is different. Editing in the opening scene is something to be picked up on, as it is an introduction towards the characters of the film, its a sequence cut between three different locations and the audience may believe this is parallel action between parts of the film but due to Renton being in all 3 scenes that is not the case. We also see the editing effects of slow motion during the times Renton is seen to be taking a hit of heroin, it gives a visual representation of what it is like to have a hit, everything is distorted, the fear of what could happen and the pain when it hits your system and can affect your friends and family around you. The character of Renton and what his life is like due to his heroin addiction can become relatable to audiences at home due to either they have gone through addiction or they have someone in there family or friendship group go through this and understand the emotions and the distress it can bring to other people as it is seen in a horrific and un-glamourized way it shows the raw danger and scenery that it can bring.
Another scene where we are able to identify the rawness of Heroin addiction if when Renton's Overdose scene. This is the most graphic and surreal scene the audience will experience and potentially get close to the inside would of heroin addiction as it holds one of the most memorable editing and shots throughout the film. We are able to see Renton's blood go inside the needle mix with the heroin then go back into Renton's system, this shot is seen inside the valve of the needle and we see all the dirty and disgusting parts of heroin inside it. A fake arm was used to make it appear that he was actually injecting himself and it was filled with pockets of blood. Non-diegetic music plays throughout this scene and its Lou Reeds "A perfect day", this would be ironic and doesn't go with the scene being played as Renton has just overdosed and is dying throughout this scene.
We see Renton fall down the gap in the floor inbetween the carpet and gives the vision as if he is being buried at a funeral as it has the narrow vision and gap for people to down at him due to his heroin addiction, being shot at a low angle is common throughout the film as it tends to represents the places where heroin end up, on the floor, so having him fall through the floor and appear to be six feet under is an adaption for the low angle. The majority of the scene is shot like this as it reflects Rentons potential fate if he doesn't get the help he needs, this would also support ideological beliefs of heroin addicts as they end up six feet under due to the way they live and if they lack care of themselves and their system its a terrible fate and cause for them and the people around them. We don't see a lot of a bright aesthetic throughout the film, it mainly contains a grainy dark feel with the majority of the colour scheme being browns and greys, it almost mirrors how they look due to addiction as with the consumption of heroin is effects your appearance and shows discolouration in the skin. With how raw Trainspotting is when is comes to showing heroin addiction it almost collaborates and shows the reality of what it is like and what it means to go through addiction, but its not only heroin addiction shown in the film, addiction to; sex, smoking, alcohol, running away, it holds hidden messages that everyone is addicted to something and have different ways of handling it and dealing with their issues, it contributes with the ideology of heroin and how it has different perspectives but you go into the mind of a heroin addict.
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