Today we completed viewing of Trainspotting.
We started by comparing and contrasting the opening sequences of this film with the other big film of 1996, "Braveheart" (despite the moans). We've been talking a bit about representations of Scotland so it was useful to have a look at these two very different portrayals of Scottishness. However, there are some similarities: both films set the scene and atmosphere in the opening minutes through music and voice over.
As we continued watching Trainspotting there were quite a few voices who claimed that, although it might have glamourised drugs in the first half, the second half of the film portrays the tragedy and pain associated with heroin abuse.
There was some talk about the degree to which the film reflected reality. Logan mentioned that the film was surreal. This surreal (dream-like) quality is a good phrase to use to describe the style of this film.
We just managed to complete the viewing of the whole film by the end of the class. I am very interested to hear and see what everyone thinks about this film. I asked everyone to write down their thoughts about any aspect of the film which they thought was memorable, engaging or interesting.
Please feel free to use the comment function below as a space to write down your observations on the film. In fact, this is a good way to do it as it extends the classroom discussions into the murky realms of the internet ...
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My Initial thoughs about Trainspotting were: to start with it seemed all rather weird, but then as I got into the movie, it all started to see and make some sense. As I have never seen TRainspotting before, |I think it is a really good film, but for me, it is not the sort of film that I would want to (or have to!!) watch again.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments Jamie. Can you expand on any of this. What makes it a "really good film" and what makes it the kind of film that you wouldn't want to watch again? What we aim to do in our critical thinking (and writing) is to go from the general statement (X is good or bad) to more specific comments which provide detail and analysis (X is good because the acting is strong. In particular I feel that...). As I say thanks for the comment - it get the online discussion going.
ReplyDeleteI think to start with the film glamorised drug taking through the narration of the lead character (Mark Renton). Then the film started to show the downside of the drug taking world with the baby and Tommy dying Mark overdosing and Spud going to prison. Trainspotting is centered around Mark and his three friends and how they would rip each other off in a heartbeat and thats exactly what Mark does to the other three only because he thought of it first or had the guts to act on it first.
ReplyDeleteTo summarise i think the film has a really good account of the drugscene in Edinburgh during the 1980's and although it is an enjoyable film to watch its not a film i could watch over and over.
Thanks for that Graeme. Yes, I'd agree that the representation of drugs changes as the film progresses.
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