2. CHOOSE LIFE
The choose life clip at the beginning of the film is a clip from later
on in the film, but is used as the opening sequence to
foreshadow what happens in the future. The diegetic sound
playing underneath is Lust for life by Iggy Pop who is
mentioned numerous times throughout the film which
highlights which time the film was made and what was popular
at the time. The lyrics also reflect what is happening in the clip
and also the narrative that we hear in conjunction with the
song as its talking about making the most out of life and
striving for the best. The repetition of ‘choose a…’ in the non-
diegetic speech explains the meaning behind the story line,
that life is what you make it and that anything is possible if you
try hard enough.
A close up of the characters faces and feet at the beginning
introduces the characters and also highlights that they are
running away and committed a crime, as we notice the items
falling out of their pockets whilst running. The tracking shot
also allows us to understand who the voiceover belongs to
and who we should be following.
3. CHOOSE LIFE
The characters are all introduced to us throughout this sequence with
the clip freezing on each of them individually whilst their names pop
up on screen. This makes sure we know who they are in order to
make it easier to follow the storyline.
As the location changes to a football pitch, we can recognise that a
steady cam is being used to follow the characters as they attempt to
play the game. This is when we are introduced to the rest of the
characters, but we know that they are not the main character as they
didn’t appear first In the sequence. The fast pace cuts that have been
continuous throughout the clip then soon change as a pan across the
males body shows him smoking. This could highlight how when he’s
taking drugs everything is more relaxed and chilled and in his own
world.
The narrative towards the end then loses its positive attitude and begins
to explain the life he really leads which is wasteful and pointless. He
explains this whilst smoking in a empty room which makes us
presume he is a drug addict.
4. BEING SCOTTISH IS SHITE
The beginning shows the character Tommy walking
Into a field surrounded by mountains. This straight
away sets the scene and reminds us that behind all
the suburban scenes and lifestyles they live, there
are much better lives available for them in Scotland.
This is then reinforced by the line ‘Does this not
make you proud to be Scottish’. We notice that the
rest of the gang have not followed Tommy and that
instead they are standing on opposite sides to show
the divide in their attitudes towards life. This is
created by the use of the 180 degree rule to
emphasise how far apart they are physically and
metaphorically.
5. BEING SCOTTISH IS SHITE
When Renton starts to talk and rant about Scotland,
taboo language is very common with numerous
swear words used to highlight his anger at this
moment In time. The close up of him in the 3rd
quarter of the shot allows us to see the scenery
behind him which makes a larger difference
between how Scotland looks and what he is
describing it to be.
The characters all being surrounded by mountains
shows how disregarded they are In society because
of their actions and the lifestyles that they live,
causing trouble.