The document analyzes the opening scene of the film Trainspotting, focusing on the camera work, editing, mise-en-scene, sound, and narration. It discusses how the handheld camera during the chase scene aims to involve the audience. Shots switch between high and low angles to show power dynamics. Costumes and settings depict the characters' impoverished lives that contrast social norms. The soundtrack and Renton's narration philosophically question societal expectations and imply he lives a carefree life fueled by heroin addiction.

1. Film opening analysis
Trainspotting
Camera work and editing:
Throughout this opening there is a wide range of different camera angles and camera usage.The
film starts with a chase and the camera looks hand held, they could have chosen to do this to give
the chase a more personal affect to make it look as if you the audience are in the chase with the
characters but also making it more exciting a chase is a high adrenaline situation so is able to keep
the focus of the viewer’s especially as it’s the opening scene and the audience haven’t been told why
they’re being chanced. On the other hand if they had used a fixed camera it would have given the
chase a much more staged look and may have stopped the audience from relating to the characters
(even though it isn’t a situation the majority have been in.)
It switches between high and low angle shots throughout the chase depending on who the focus of
the shot is for instance they use a high angle shot when they are focusing on the, what look like
security guards chasing them as in society they are people who have authority and power over the
general public. However they use a mid-shot that is slightly low angle on Renton when he’s running
they could have chosen to do this to show that because he has stolen from the men chasing them he

2. partly has power over them but not enough to not be running from them as well as using a low
angle shot when he jumps down the stairs. They also use a fair few point-of-vie(POV) shots whilst
he is running, again they may have chosen to use a POV shot to help the audience relate with their
main character to show what he is seeing from his eyes but again also to put the viewer directly in
the line of action. When he is hit by the car it switches to a POV shot from the driver and its very
effective as it shows Renton in a slightly different light, from his facial expression it almost shows
him to be a bit crazy as he’s just been hit by a car yet he laughs and smiles about it.
After the chase it cuts to Renton in his what looks like house, the camera usage changes to a fixed
camera this could have been done to represent that he is in a permanent situation and that it’s not so
high pressured. They use a range of mid-shots to possibly give the audience a better idea of the
setting and in doing so giving them a broader insight into the characters lifestyle. Also using some
extreme close ups of his face when he is smoking again giving the audience an idea of the sort of
habits the character does which in a way fluffs out the profile the audience will subconsciously be
building up of the character, a close up also allows the character to see in this case the condition of
his skin and how deeply he is inhaling the smoke, the way he is gives off such a care-free
impression that he isn’t in any hurry and is content with what he has there.
In the football match they use what looks like a hand-held camera again to again maybe try and
include the viewers in the action and they use fast pace editing again to mirror the game’s pace. The
shots range from close ups to wide shots of the whole team, they would have used the wide shots to
introduce the new characters to the audience which they then followed to use close ups of their
faces when their names flashed onto the screen. They used a few close ups to show the action during
the match, focusing on foul play actions from the characters such as Sick Boy which gives the
audnace an insight to the type of people Renton associates himself with.
Mise-En-Scene
The costumes of the characters in the opening is a direct give away to what sort of lives they lead
and where they fit into society. Renton and his companion are wearing casual jeans and jumpers
which look worn giving off the impression they’re old and possibly implying that they cannot afford
to buy new ones. Whereas the men that are chasing them are in what looks like brand new suits and
smart shoes which has the connotations of wealth and power in some cases, this contrasts with what
Renton is wearing. Renton and his companion both have very short haircuts, Renton has a shaved
head and stereotypically you can associates that with gangs and chavs.
The overall settings in the opening all look rough and worn down which you could associate with
poverty. The flat that he supposedly lives in is dirty and looks like its falling apart with no personal
touch or decorating, this could imply to the viewer that the characters that live there do not care
about where they live and it’s just a place to rest their heads and do drugs which is the opposite to
what society say is right showing that Renton doesn’t care or conform to social norms. The colours

3. of the footage look almost dulled to make everything look dirty also the use of mainly dark browns,
black or mustard yellow help in giving off the overall vibe that the characters in this film are going
to be of a controversial nature and implies that they may be involved in illegal things such as drugs.
Sound
From the start to the end of the opening there is a soundtrack in the background and the song they
chose to play was extremely fitting ‘Lust of life- Iggy Pop’ However it is just the instrumental but if
you were to watch the film knowing the song it is very fitting as the characters in this film are
lusting for a different kind of life to modern society. Renton is narrating over the film opening and
he starts with: Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television, choose washing
machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers. Which is just amazing, he is philosophically
questioning everything that in a day to day life that society has set as normal and is clearly stating
that he has no interest in any of it. This narration implies to the viewer that he again is care- free
and he does not want to conform to the standards set by the general society. He ends the narration
on: but why would I want to doa thing like that. I chose not to choose life. I choose something else. And the reasons. There are no
reasons. Whoneeds reasons when you’ve got heroin. The ending is just as powerful as the opening and confirms
the suspicions of the viewer that he’s care-free and ties up all the loose ends about why does he live
in such a rundown house? Why is he stealing? It’s because he is addicted to heroin.