Binary Opposites:
- Legal Addiction Vs Illegal Addiction: The social backlash of Illegal drugs such as Heroin contrasted to the legal drugs such as Alcohol shown throughout the film.
- London Vs Edinburgh: London is shown as a much brighter better place than Edinburgh in the film which showcases the working class and successfully shifts the location of the film for the viewer.
- Rich Vs Poor: The main characters in the film are constantly shown as desperate and deprived which contrasts some of the other side characters in the film.
- Reality Vs Fantasy: Fantasies created by the drug use in the film.
- Isolation Vs Inclusion: Renton is nearly always seen with the rest of the group until later in the film where he isolates himself from the others before taking the money.
Key Scenes for Narrative and Character Development:
- Intro Scene: Introduces the five main characters and sets out the key ideals and thoughts in the film.
- Sick Boy Method: Shows the fantasy elements of the film, shows the struggle taken by Renton when getting off the Drugs
- Tommie and the Turning Point: When Tommy tells Renton the truth about Begbies story, it ruptures the current narrative and causes the rest of the film to turn eventually leading to Tommy’s demise.
- Renton’s Relapse: Shows the fantasy elements of the film which reflect the past events of the film.
Messages and Values in the Film:
- ‘An Alternative View on Drugs’ – Rather than following typical characters in a drug themed film, Renton gives the audience a new opinion on drugs and is shown in this way to appeal to the target audience in the film.
- Genre: British Social Realism with Humour – Humour is used by Boyle alongside surrealism to rather comment on the drug situation than to make a firm opinion about drugs.
- Post-Modernism: Pop culture references, Renton breaking the fourth wall with elements of a hyperreality.
- Addiction: Not only drugs – Tommy with exercise (Before he turns). Addiction is shown in many ways to highlight the overall dangers of addiction rather than just a focus on Drug use.
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