Train Spotting Analysis
The next film I am analysing is Trainspotting. The opening sequence is iconic and has features within it that I'd like to use in my opening sequence. The film is based on the working class/underclass and it start of with a chase scene just like mine will include.
The production company for Trainspotting was Channel Four Films (now Film4). The company is known for backing British films that go on to become iconic films.
When the name of the company is showing the sound of feet hitting the ground fast and getting closer plays over the top.
For a second before you see the first foot touch the ground there is an establishing shot of a busy highstreet in Scotland. Then you see a pair of legs run straight past the camera down the street. This shot is really interesting and I think it would work really well in my opening sequence.
You can see that the person the camera is focusing on doesn't fully care about their appearance as the shoes that they are wearing are dirty and scruffed up.
The use of a medium shot shows the audience the characters for the first time. From this shot you can instantly see a lot about the characters. Renton (left) in positioned slightly further forward than Spud (right) this signifies that in their relationship Spud looks up to Renton and that Renton has more authority.
The characters' facial expressions say a lot about their personalities. Renton looks determined to get away from the people chasing them which represents the way he feels about getting off drugs. Spud looks scared but is looking to Renton for support.
There is a contrast in the clothes that the two characters in the foreground are wearing in comparision to the men who are chasing them. Renton and Spud are dressed very casual wearing hoodies, jackets, jeans and trainers whereas the other men are dressed formally in business atire, wearing suits and ties. This indicates to the audience the social classes of the two pairs are very different. The pair dressed caually appear to be working class and the two chasing them more middle class.
The two drop many stolen goods from under their jumpers this fuels the stereotypical idea that people from working class background are all criminals.
It then cuts to a low angle shot which gives them authority. There is a clear difference between how much authority each character has by how far apart the two are.
The street has scaffolding covering some buildings and looks dull. This shows that the area is not 'posh'. There are usual highstreet shops such as boots in the background which gives the scene realism and sets the scene. The Scottish flag on the left hand side initially shows where the film is set.
The film is about drug addiction. The side of the street that the two characters are on has no bright colours it is all grey and white this actually contrasts the characters and white connotes purity. But on the other side of the road are trees with green leaves on them. This could represent that there is a healthy lifestyle on the other side and that they just have to make the decision to 'cross the road' and stop taking drugs.
There appears to be a lot of old people in the street and not many young people and no children which suggests that this scene is set during a weekday which suggests from the outset that the characters do not have jobs and are on job seekers allowance. This is what people believe is a feature of working class or underclass people's lives stereotypically.
A tracking shot is being used in this scene to capture the chase smoothly at a fast pace.
Something that makes this opening sequence so memorable is the voice over that goes with it. The use of the regional accent is important. He has a strong Scottish accent which indicates that that he is from a working class background through the use of the regional accent. The voice over says 'Chose life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family, choose a f**king big television, choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players, and electrical tin openers.'
The movement then changes from the tracking shot that had been used from the start of the opening sequence to a point of view shot. This shot isn't as smooth as a tracking shot but although this shot is supposed to represent the movement of Renton who is running as fast as he can the shot is relatively smooth and the shot remains clear and easy to follow.
I plan to use a similar shot in my opening sequence.
The camera cuts from the POV shot as the car comes down the street to a long shot from the other side of the road. Shot reverse shot is used as is shows what they see then cuts to see the reaction of the character.
The use of a POV from the driver of the car as it hits Renton and it follows him as he rolls over the car. This shot is interesting as it puts the audience inside the car like it is an exclusive angle to watch the action from as you never see the actual driver of the car.
There is a continuity error here that I picked up on. There is a man walking up the street towards the traffic lights and spud and the people chasing them are not in the shot.
I like this extreme long shot because the main focus is on the setting. The tunnel is dark and at the other side it is light. This signifies to the audience that the film is about a journey and that there is light at the end of the tunnel for them.
The camera returns to the shot from the driver of the car's POV. In this shot the clothes that Renton is wearing are all brown and he completely blends into the background. This shows that at this point in his life he is just living under the radar and not putting himself out there. Brown has connotations of stability which contrasts his lifestyle.
The facial expressions show he is in shock that he got away and joy that the car ironically saved him.
This shot includes the first of the titles in the opening sequence. The when the titles appear the shot becomes a freeze-frame which is really interesting as it is unusual. Rather than the name of the actors names appearing in the titles, it shows their character names/nicknames. In this screenshot is 'Renton'. The text is bold, simple and white. This suggests that their name and reputation is important to the characters.
It then cuts to an indoor location. There is huge graping holes in the wall for who knows what reason but it instantly indicated to the audience that they are poor. There is also nothing else in the room which shows that they can't afford basic homely features and that it is not a priority to look after, decorate and furnish their home. Drugs are more important to them.
The shot cuts from a medium shot to a extreme long shot so you can see how very basic the place is.There is no carpet or real flooring, there is damp on the walls, holes in the walls, the ceiling is dirty and falling down. Basically, you wouldn't choose to live there.
These shots of each team playing five-a-side show that the main characters don't take things very seriously in comparison to the others. This is represented by what they are wearing, the other team have a team strip and look like they use a lot of teamwork. The other team are wearing whatever they turned up in.
During this scene the audience is introduced to the rest of the group. Sick Boy, Begbie, Spud and Tommy. They use violent tactics in the game which represents their way of life outside of the game as it signidies that as they don't play by the rules of the game they don't live by the law.
This low angle shot give them authority and this represents the way that the characters feel as they have been violent towards the other team throughout the match.
The other team which do not look very intimidating at all and they take away the authority of Renton by kicking the ball in his face. Drugs are know to slow down your reactions so that explains why he didn't react before the ball hit him in the face. The use of a close up as the ball hit him shows the impact of the ball.
Here the camera cuts between two different scenes, the scene of the five-a-side game and of Renton smoking something in the flat. It shows him being knocked out in both scenes, showing that the damage and the pain is equal in the game and in doing drugs.
