Film opinion: ‘Trainspotting’ - 30 years on
Trainspotting is loved by both film fans and critics alike.
Showcasing the despair within the Edinburgh drug scene, the film shows grottiness and disgust in a way that, from a film fan's perspective, is beautiful.
Trainspotting megafan Nisha Cullen breaks down its legacy for Film News Blitz as we approach its 30th Anniversary.
‘Trainspotting’
Trainspotting is forever a film that I return to, despite it creating a feeling of unease.
Cementing itself in my top four, it’s one that I need to plan my rewatches carefully in order to fully enjoy, and to not feel horrible afterwards.
Director Danny Boyle’s 1996 film has cemented itself as a British staple, and the British Film Institute ranked Trainspotting as the 10th best British film of the 20th century.
Regarded as Ewan McGregor’s international film breakthrough, he plays the main character Renton, who, together with his friends, battles heroin addiction.
The film deals with a variety of heavy topics, such as, of course, drug addiction, but also touches on AIDS and infant mortality.
A movie to deal with such topics, and to portray the heaviness that comes along with them, and to still have comedic flourishes, is an art in itself.
The soundtrack is held in high regard alongside the film itself, as it should be.
Notably, ‘Born Slippy Nuxx’ by Underworld is the standout, and for me, encapsulates the whole film into one track.
There are other notable names on the tracklist, such as Iggy Pop, Blur, Pulp and Primal Scream.
‘T2 Trainspotting’
The sequel to Trainspotting, T2 Trainspotting, was released in 2017, 21 years after its predecessor.
Set 20 years after the ending of Trainspotting, we catch up with the original cast of characters, finding how their lives have been impacted, and changed from the events decades ago.
T2 is a film equally as heartbreaking as the original, yet for a completely different reason.
The feeling of hopelessness among a few characters, still living similar cycles akin to their youth, is really heartbreaking.
While I do feel the second film lacks the same charm, I feel like T2 is just as impactful and enjoyable.
Again, T2 has an incredible soundtrack, with names like The Clash, Blondie and Queen, as well as Underworld and Iggy Pop appearing.
Legacy
The legacy left behind by Trainspotting, both in the film and fashion industry, and in personal settings, is massive.
The distastefully named “heroin chic” fashion trend that was popular around the time of the film's release drew on elements showcased within Trainspotting.
The movement was, for lack of a better word, awful. It rewarded a sickly look, which proved to be a sickness within itself.
Although it played with androgyny and rebellion, all things that are still highly regarded within fashion, I think it is best to leave this fashion legacy in the past.
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Personally, the film does mean a lot to me.
I remember when visiting Edinburgh with friends, who had never even heard of the film, I took them to the steps showcased in the first scene of the film.
They turned to me afterwards to say, "Is that it?” But to me, a fan of Trainspotting, to get to pretend for a second that I was running down the same staircase as Renton, it brought me happiness.
The “choose life” monologue from the beginning of the film has by far one of the biggest impacts.
Inspiring art, tattoos, and people's own personal philosophies, the legacy left behind by Trainspotting is significant.
Overview
There is no doubt that Trainspotting is an important film, both to the film industry and to fans.
Three decades after its release, it still holds as much importance as it did when it was initially released.
I forever find myself returning to this Trainspotting, and recommending it to people who haven’t had the chance to watch it yet. CHOOSE LIFE!
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