TRAINSPOTTING: Opening anaylsis

 The opening scene immediately begins in media res, introducing us initially to Renton as it's narrated from his perspective, aligning the audience with him. After he is hit by the car, we get a freeze frame point of view shot as if we, as the audience are inside the car and he is outside, suggesting that he is an outsider - however the unsettling laugh shows that he is content with that. This also links with the narration he is giving in the background as he is talking about not wanting to conform with social conventions; 'Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family.' Both of these ideas introduce themes of identity and belonging. Also, the very first thing we see is Renton being chased by an authority figure, implying there are themes of conflict with authority. The film switches between high and low angle shots throughout the chase, depending on who the focus of the shot is, for instance, a high angle shot is used when they are focusing on the security guards chasing them to symbolise the power and authority they have over them (as well as the general public).

Renton then says 'choose good health' during a shot of him smoking, which implies to the audience that he mocking people who do choose to live a healthy life, exaggerating his carelessness. It is appealing to young British audiences as it's about a young guy critiquing society with a smile on his face; the repeated use of the word 'choose' shows how he views these things that society holds so dearly as futile and as something he doesn't wish to conform to.

When we see the group of the main characters playing football, we can see that unlike the opposing team, Rentons' group are not wearing uniforms, again highlighting that they don't wan to be a part of the norms of the society they live in. We can clearly see that Begbie enjoys hurting people when he knocks down a man from the opposing team and smiles in the freeze frame introducing him (foreshadowing his later behaviours). Spud missing the ball shows how clueless and nonchalant he is, as well as the clothing he wears; a superman shirt, introducing him as a comical character. Tommy trapped in the corner with none of his friends supporting him gives the audience an insight into their friendship. 

The women play a small part in the opening, never getting their own freeze frame introduction, perhaps the directors way of portraying the world that Renton and his friends live in as misogynistic. All the women are stood together on the sidelines, bunching them together could imply that they see the women as 'all the same,' emphasising this misogynistic perspective.

So far, the way that the shots and scenes have been edited were quite fast paced and snappy, but after Renton takes a hit of heroin the editing becomes very slow which is representative of now the drug makes him feel, further aligning the audience with him. Directly after this shot of Renton lying on the floor in the red room, it cuts to a bright green shot of the camera tracking continuously low down to the floor, this contrast in colours represents something. It is not only dome to highlight the surrealist theme, but also we see the baby in the green lit room and the group taking heroin in the red lit room, possibly showing how green represents something goof, innocent and pure. However, red represents negative and harmful things in an arguably positive and exhilarating light - the tone is warm and colourful, although menacing.