“Trainspotting” is a game in which idle young people pass the time by making impromptu bets and guessing the time and destination of the next train in the place where the train passes.
In addition, because the blood vessels of long-term drug use are mottled like railroads, the injection site can be found on the blood vessels, which is also called “Trainspotting”.
“Trainspotting” is just like its title. I feel inexplicable before watching it, but it has profound meaning after I understand it.
First of all, the title is far-reaching. “Trainspotting” presents to the audience the most authentic aspect of Edinburgh culture in Scotland.
When the train screamed past the station, I don’t know where to take the fate of the protagonists.
This kind of confused and helpless teenagers may resonate and determine their own existence.
The social reality reflected in the film, as well as the indifference, anarchy, and the resistance and resistance of non-mainstream communities to the mainstream society, have given a strong impact on people living in a normal society.
So that “Trainspotting” caused a sensation as soon as it was released. I think there are three main features of the film.
1.”Trainspotting” unique detailed description
The first is the true power built up by countless details.
So far, many people have criticized “Trainspotting” for overly detailed and true descriptions of drug use.
What they overlooked, however, is that “Trainspotting”‘s description of the detoxification process is more real, detailed, and painful.
“Trainspotting” describes the non-mainstream lifestyle of marginalized people.
In order to be convincing, each segment uses a different way to show many amazing little details, so that the audience has a sense of substitution, participation, and fun.
For example, when showing the protagonist Renton’s preparations before he decides to detox, the director uses the protagonist’s narration as an explanation, and then through carefully designed shots, and also uses serious classical symphony as the background music, which makes the whole clip very interesting.
Renton looks directly at the camera through the mirror, and has a strong sense of communication with the audience, which makes the audience also have expectations for the protagonist, hoping that he can successfully detoxify.
As for the footage shot by Renton and Sick Boy, the director didn’t make too much modification. He only used ambient sound and similar front and back shots with a concise narrative, so that the audience could look at the matter from an impartial perspective.
The addition of the first perspective has always maintained a sense of participation, making the audience full of expectations for the next plot.
2. “Trainspotting” color rendering
The second is the use of “Trainspotting” color.
In the room where the protagonists take drugs, the main body of the wall carpet is scarlet, which well sets off the dangerous, anxious, and decadent atmosphere here.
When a baby appears, the wall is dark green, representing hidden hope. The sharp contrast of red and green also makes the audience worry about the baby’s fate.
When the baby dies, the whole interior is dark blue that suppresses sorrow, and all the greens become grayer, creating a melancholy and depressed atmosphere.
The segment of the bar also highlights the protagonist through different colors of light.
The flickering green and purple lights when the male and female masters meet make the atmosphere both true and illusory, and the rose red on the outer wall of the bar adds a romantic atmosphere to the night.
3.The use of “Trainspotting” background music and monologue
Finally, the use of “Trainspotting” background music. During the filming period, it was the prosperous period of British rock and many famous bands participated in the production of background music.
The background music is strong and dynamic; the rhythm and melody are fluent, and the lyrics are decadent and full of philosophies, which adds a lot to the film.
Of course, “Trainspotting” is most famous for the protagonist’s monologue about “choose life”.
As a portrayal of the rebellious youth’s thinking at that time, it complained about mainstream life and put forward the slogan “I choose not to choose life”, which had a great impact on me.
Although it now seems that ‘do not choose life’ may just be a delusion of the degenerate youth.
But whenever I complain about my life, someone older than me teaches me: Your life is easy enough, and you know how much I envy your life at this time.
From the young brothers and sisters who have just graduated to the grandparents who have retired, they all share the same rhetoric.
Faced with the competition between schoolwork and future employment, I myself often envy kindergarten children, and think about the unemployed youths in their early 20s in the film.
Although he will eventually fall helplessly into the torrent of life, at least there is a youth who indulges and abandons life completely.
In fact, everyone has this opportunity, but most people miss it and regret it for a lifetime.
Maybe don’t have too many worries, seize the power given by youth, choose not life, choose something else.
Maybe when you are not obsessed with choosing your life, you will discover countless other possibilities.
