Scene Analysis: Opening Scene

Question 1

Cinematography:
1. POV shot of Renton running
2. pale lighting of the street
3. low angle shot of Renton’s feet
4. saturated red lighting of ‘Mother Superior’
5. tracking two shot of Renton and Spud running
6. static camera movement when Renton gets high

Answer 1

1. aligns us with him, establishes hes the lead character
2. symbolises deprived Scotland, how they’re trying to run from it, creates hyper realist effect of the area
3. reflects how they’re in the rock bottom of society, low angle shots are repeated throughout this scene
4. red has connotations of danger, also symbolises blood where the heroin gets injected into his blood and maybe theme of love for drugs?
5. Renton in foreground shows he’s the protagonist
6. connotes relaxation. isolation shows how all he needs to rely on is drugs

Question 2

Sound:
1. Lust For Life - Iggy Pop
2. Renton’s cynical and nihilistic narration showing his views on drugs and why he takes them

Answer 2

1. the song is about heroin and rejecting societal norms, which relates to Renton’s voice over who is mocks ‘choosing life’ and is against it
2. encapsulates the ‘exhaustion’ of Gen X. aligns the audience with him and creates a bond. causes us to see situations from his perspective.

Question 3

Editing:
1. title sequence freeze frame
2. shot reverse shot when Sick Boy and Allison look at each other
3. cross cut from Renton getting hit by football to himself falling on the floor
4. fast paced editing changes to slower paced

Answer 3

1. gives the characters an immediate iconic status and symbolic ideas of their characteristics. the film follows a linear pattern and focuses of rentons viewpoint
2. shows unease and anticipation of what the drug will do to her/if it will work
3. reflects working class leisure and how much he and others rely on drugs as form of entertainment
4. reflects how they feel about their fast paced life and how Renton is tired of it and wants to slow down

Question 4

Mise en scene:
1. dull colours of the den
2. items in the room sprawled everywhere, baby crawling around on its own
3. old and dirty coloured clothing of main characters
4. Renton in separate room from the others
5. set in Leith

Answer 4

1. matches council houses to reflect the class status of the gang
2. foreshadows abandonment sick boy and allison will do to their child as a result of their addiction. reflects chaos in Scotland due to poll tax and Thatcherism
3. shows how they and Scotland as a whole have been living in poverty. different colours suggest no unity: all distinct characters who refuse to conform to stereotypes
4. reflects how he distanced himself from his ‘friends’ but also society, causes him to lack trust in everyone
5. one of the poorest districts in Scotland at the time, neglected and run down due to lack of control of the government, reflects low income, creates hyper realist effect

Question 5

How are binary oppositions presented in this scene?

Answer 5

• aligns us with nature of the characters, especially the heroin addicts. they juxtapose with characters throughout the sequence: eg the police, football players (match cuts)
• becoming heroin addicts instead of looking after their child, shown through the flooding colours in each room

Question 6

How is Sick Boy introduced?

Answer 6

yelling about foul play: connotes he is argumentative and vocal. self righteous

Question 7

How is Begbie introduced?

Answer 7

Kicking another player and grins while doing so; connotes sadism

Question 8

How is Spud introduced?

Answer 8

Misses the ball, uncoordinated movements. Suggests he is the comedic relief. more innocent and naive

Question 9

How is Tommy introduced?

Answer 9

Backed into the corner: foreshadows how he is emotionally backed into the corner leading to drug addiction

Question 10

How is Renton introduced?

Answer 10

Smiles at the camera through the windshield after nearly being hit: lives for the thrills and has no care for safety