Trainspotting:Key scene analysis

Trainspotting: Final scene analysis

Danny Boyle uses different scenes throughout Trainspotting to show Mark Renton's character development. The final scene is used by Danny Boyle as a way of showing Renton's ability to involve and progress in the situations he is in. It could be argued that by watching the final scene things are looking hopeful for Renton, since it seems like he is able not only to revise his old behaviours but to stick to his plan to "choose life". It should also be argued that even though the opening narration is at asact opposite ends of the film and the both narrations are the same in the worlds that are being spoken are the same, it could be said that Boyle uses the narration as a sort of antithesis; which not only highlights the fact that Renton has change externally (the actions he will take) he has also altered his mindset. The mindset being the thing that has the most influence of how life will turn out for them. 

Though the scene is significant as a whole, Danny Boyle uses specific shots as a way of placing the audience into the thoughts of Renton. An example of this is the close up of Renton just before he takes the money. In this shot Renton is looking himself dead in the eye; eyes are normally viewed as having a deeper meaning to a person's being and often said to be the 'window to a person's soul'. The fact that Renton is looking at him in the mirror shows the audience that he is looking at true self and could be doing so to get rid of any doubtful thoughts surrounding the theft of the money from his friends.

It could also be argued that one of the main ways that Boyle displays Renton's character evolution is through the final narrative and the few shots of the film. This can be supported by the fact that when Renton begins his speech a wide shot of the location (a bridge in London). Not only does fit in with one of the key binary opposites of the film, London Vs Edinburgh it also could be suggesting that Renton thrives more when he is in this environment. Also, in this shot we can see that Renton is the only person on the whole bridge. I think that this a stylistic choice made not only by Danny Boyle, but his cinematographer, Brian Tufano. I think this was done as a way of showing that Renton does better we he is on his own. 

 Overall, I believe that despite the mise-en-scene and the cinematography used in this scene, I think that the most successful thing in term of presenting character development in the narrative at the end. I think the most powerful thing, that leads us to believe that this time going clean is going to be successful for Renton is the fact that he says "the truth is, I'm a bad person". From acknowledging his character flaw, he not only shows honestly, but also promise to move forward, since it said that the first step in the direction of recovery is the admitting of ones faults..