Renton's Escape Analysis

There are multiple sections towards the end of Trainspotting that depict Renton trying to escape his previous lifestyle but being constantly pursued by his friends, all of which display Renton's ideology and show the audience why he wants to escape his friends through alignment and elements of film form.

The scene where Renton moves to London showcases the audience the life Renton wants by creating a contrast with the previous settings of the film with mise-en-scene, camera angles and music. Firstly, throughout the entirety of the film Edinburgh is depicted as a horrible place: dirty, run down and chaotic, which was made clear to the audience through locations such as Renton's flat. This is juxtaposed with almost a stereotype of London. The montage at the beginning of scene showcasing London with the slow panning shots creates an fun and easy going atmosphere. The scenes are bright, colourful and vibrant, creating a more innocent aesthetic spiritually aswell as literally. This is furthermore shown by highlighting the people of London: their dancing, posing, having fun, giving the audience the idea this is a fun place and good place to be and allows them to understand why Renton moved there, so he distance himself from that lifestyle as much as possible. Another element of mise-en-scene used is the costume. For example, Renton is wearing a suit throughout the scene. Now the audience knows this is because Renton is working in a formal work environment. This is another contrast to his clothes at beginning of the film, like jeans and trainers. These youthful like apparel may depict how Renton was being more reckless at the beginning like how a young man does and the suit represents how he is trying to mature and grow up by leaving his group behind and starting fresh. However, this is proven to be futile when Begbie finds him again. It happens when Mark is alone in his new flat. Like his old one, the flat is covered in orange, potentially referencing how deep down Mark still longs for heroin which we found out later on he still craves or maybe how he secretly misses the old lifestyle partly and adventure he feels when part of it. On the other hand, it is small, cramped, cluttered with junk, unlike the old flat which was wide and spacious. This is shown not shortly before Begbie rings the doorbell and this followed by a close up on Renton's face, making the audience feel cramped and maybe depicting Renton as feeling the same way. It could symbolic of how he feels trapped and cannot escape Begbie and his group, which is evident because Begbie just found him. Or maybe it represents that Renton feels trapped by society who are pressuring him into following this corporate, formal lifestyle that he secretly does not want and only follows to distance himself away from his friend, explaining the orange walls.