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.

Low Angle Shot

Breaking 4th Wall

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.
A voice over backs this up as it begins also fast paced. The voice
over 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 voice over
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

The smoke appears as his soul is

leaving his body.

Hell-like coloured walls shows his

sins. The holes in the walls represent
the holes in his brain that the drugs
have created.

Audience
Primary Audience: Lower class, unsuccessful, age 15-30, British, white (as all
the characters are white) , unemployed males. This would be because the
audience may share the same experiences and may have possibly gone
through the same problems themselves. They want to be inspired not live as
Renton.
Secondary Audience: Middle class, intelligent, employed, aged 20-35, white
(as all the characters are white), male or female who may have read the book
so want to see the movie. Additionally the language techniques used
throughout the film in general are quite complex, they may be watching to
learn. Again, they may be watching to mock the story as they are the
complete opposite to Renton. Or simply, they (especially females) could be
watching to see the actor Ewan McGregor simply because they like him.