Trainspotting

By Stuart Brown

Trainspotting is a 1996 film directed by Danny Boyle based on the book by Irvine Welsh. It focus’ on Mark Renton, with no goals and bored in life, but just lives for the next hit of heroin he can get his hands on, and getting the money to get the drug gives a rush superior than anything else his life has to offer. He sees the average person’s life as hollow, mind numbingly boring and a simple waste. Heroin needs no reasons to be used, a quick slip into a undisturbed peace that makes him feel nothing and yet more alive than reality ever could. But throughout the film we see Renton’s life spiral downward, the passing of a friends baby, dead in the crib  due to lack of care by junkie parents is arguably the worst moment, when it becomes clear how much heroin takes a hold of the characters lives, and their immediate response is to do it all over again. Rob people, steal, and yet no matter how many times they do it it’s never enough and have to go and do it all over again, just for a next hit. Renton is fully aware of where his life is leading him, and each time he does it he’s edging closer but he just can’t help himself.

Even when his friend, the only one who seems clean, normal and healthy plunges into the use of heroin after his girlfriend leaves him (for something that was Rentons fault) ends up dead. This shows how it really can effect anyone who has it in their lives, and I think on some level his friends know it’s their fault. It takes Renton’s own near death experience due to an over dose, and after a few brush in with the law Renton to sort his life out. Getting clean, moving away from Edinburgh and his influential friends, and getting a job to get his life on track. Only for his friends to turn up on his doorstep to lure him back into the world of drugs and crime.

Trainspotting is a very realistic, unpredictable, hard hitting and sometimes surprisingly humorous film that nails the lives of heroin addicts, and how hard it can be to be rid of the drug. The film’s final moments show how Rentons views have changed, he has a new lust for life and is excited just to be the average person. It gives you an appreciation for all you take for granted and how you are really lucky to own even the simplest of possessions. Although the acting is brilliant, and it is thanks to Danny Boyle who has created a master piece of film that will remain iconic for years to come. I believe it’s John Hodge’s adapted screenplay from Irvine Welsh's book that has the most powerful impact. The writing is utterly fantastic, each character is individual and all know their fate. They know it’s wrong, they know they’re bad people, the characters are not admirable, they are believable and feel real due to the realism in the dialogue and the touching monologues that makes you sympathise with them rather than have a disliking to them for the choices they’ve made.