On February 23rd 1996, Director Danny Boyle, who had 1994’s Shallow Grave on his belt at this point of his career, released Trainspotting, an adaptation of the 1993 novel of the same name by Scottish writer Irvine Welsh. Set in the late 80’s, the novel focused on the lives of heroin addicts and their friends in Edinburgh and their exploits as well as the consequences of these actions. The novel would then be critically acclaimed and gain cult following in the following years and it was adapted for stage by Harry Gibson in the mid-90s, with the stage adaptation inspiring the film adaptation. The film adaptation would also have the same premise as the novel, focusing on the lives of drug addicts in Edinburgh, and gain the same critical acclaim, captivating audiences for 28 years. So, let’s talk about what made the film so memorable to the audiences.
The first thing to talk about Trainspotting and what made it a cultural phenomenon is its depiction of drug addiction. Other films like Requiem for A Dream have also touched the subject of drug addiction, but Trainspotting stands out with its more surreal, raw take on the subject. However, it’s not just drug addiction Trainspotting mainly focuses on, it also deals with the inability to move away these addictions and trying to cope with them, as well as the negative effects on them. This theme has resonated with a lot of viewers over the last two decades and it still remains relevant to this day.
For example, one of the main characters, Tommy, fits the theme perfectly. When he gets dumped by his girlfriend, Lizzy, after being unable to secure their sextape, his life falls apart and becomes reliant on drugs to cope with her loss, but ends up contracting HIV and dies from it. Another character who fits the theme is Begbie. He’s never done drugs, but instead uses violence to vent out his anger, such as throwing a cup at a woman and starting a fight during the opening of the film or picking a fight against a civilian for messing up his suit near the end of the film.
As the movie progresses, we see how the main characters cope with their personal failures by turning to drugs and how it affects their lives, as evidenced by Renton, Spud and Sick Boy getting off heroin to focus on their lives, only for them to go back using it once their attempt to start a new leaf falls apart. Renton is constantly reminded by his friends and family that reliance on heroin will end up destroying him, but despite attempts to wean himself off it, he still keeps using it due to the loneliness he experiences despite being surrounded by his loved ones and the fact that he can’t find another purpose in life.
That’s what makes Renton such a compelling protagonist. Throughout the film, Renton is aware of his flaws and out of all the main characters, he’s the only one who tries his best to become a better person, and Ewan McGregor excels in this role, as he evokes the complex personality and emotional struggle of Renton. The other main stars also do a great job in their roles; Jonny Lee Miller gives a charismatic performance as Sick Boy, Robert Carlyle invokes Begbie’s psychotic and vicious personality in way no other actor could, Ewen Bremmer makes you feel sympathy for Spud and even Kevin McKidd and Kelly McDonald are great as Tommy and Diane, respectively.
The most memorable scene in the film has to be the “Junkie Limbo” scene, where Renton experiences a withdrawal that causes him to see hallucinations of his friends and visions of the baby who died during the film crawling from the ceiling, accompanied by Underworld’s Dark and Long (Dark Train Mix). This scene has stuck with me since I first watched the film and it serves as a warning against drug addiction and how it’s able to affect someone’s psyche. I also loved the vibrant and surreal imagery during this scene, as the camera shifts from Renton’s imagination of his friends to the TV that plays the game show to the baby crawling from the ceiling. I was legitimately scared of that child!
Another thing people bring up when talking about this film is the soundtrack, as it’s now considered to be one of the best movie soundtracks of all time. The first half of the soundtrack is composed of 70s/80s Rock & Britpop & the second one is composed of 90s Dance/Electronic music and they fit the mood of the film perfectly.
In conclusion, Trainspotting still holds up after 28 years and there’s a reason why it’s considered to be one of the most iconic movies of the 90s; With its grungy & raw aesthetic, strong themes, terrific performances and memorable soundtrack, Trainspotting is an incredible examination of how one’s addiction could affect the person’s life and how hard it can be to wean off that addiction, as well as showcasing the consequence of such action. It’s also been of my favorite movies of all time and I highly recommend it to anyone who is a cinephile or someone who wants to learn about the dangers of drug addiction.
