It’s been fifteen years since audiences first saw Ewan McGregor sprint onto cinema screens in the classic British movie Trainspotting. We’re celebrating the occasion with a special exhibition and screening in Edinburgh on Wednesday 2nd February, where its most iconic scenes were shot.
Opening lines of email that scared me.
Fifteen years? FIFTEEN YEARS? You’re kidding me. I remember guzzling down cheap cider and piling on the makeup before sneaking into the opening midnight showing of this at my local cinema. Flanked by my friend’s big brother and his mates, all wobbling heels and hairspray, I’m surprised we got in – but I’m bloody glad we did. A true milestone on the landscape of Scottish cinema, from the opening titles on…we knew we were in for something special. Irvine Welsh’s book had been passed round all of us the previous year, now came the time to see it lived out. Holy hell, to a fifteen year old with a growing cult-film obsession, this was 94 minutes of pure gold.
So an opportunity to help celebrate that anniversary couldn’t be missed now, could it?
Volkswagen have been sponsoring independent cinema across the UK for the last six years, focussing now on locations through their “See Film Differently” events. Following on from original location screenings of An American Werewolf in London (held in London Zoo) and Get Carter (screened at Newcastle Racecourse) See Film Differently brought Trainspotting to one of its iconic locations. Taking place in the Royal Scottish Academy – home of contemporary Scottish Art – where Renton and Spud’s infamous chase scene flies past, tickets for the event were snapped up at speed.
While the location itself may only play a small part in the Trainspotting picture, it is only fitting that a film like this should be tied to the art world. Prior to filming, production designer Kave Quinn was given a scrapbook of images compiled by director Danny Boyle to give a feel for how he envisioned the film. Included were not only images from music and fashion magazines, but also reproductions of Francis Bacon paintings – which Quinn said “suggested a sort of in-between land – part reality, part fantasy – which seemed very Trainspotting.”
Boyle had wanted to avoid social realism, and have the look of Trainspotting be drawn from real life, but keep it stylized and exaggerated. There’s a heavy use of colour filters going on, with distinctive lens tints for almost each indoor set. There is a visual artistry going on in Trainspotting that lifts it far away from the ‘drug film’ tag some people land it with. Look beyond the comedy moments, any of content you may find shocking, and this film has an artistic sensibility running through its veins. Sorry, I did try to write another analogy there, honestly.
Welcomed with free drinks, a choice of fish n’ chip shop favourites, and an abundance of popcorn, the Scottish Academy proved to be a very friendly venue. A triple-header introduction – including filmed appearance by Danny Boyle – started the proceedings off before a long exercise in navigating my line of vision around the rather tall lad in front of me. But there wasn’t much time for bemoaning my lack of height, as a quick dash to the nearby Ingleby Gallery had to be made for an exhibition of rare film stills, promotional material and photography accompanied by a DJ set by Paul Daley of Leftfield. I’d been advised we would be following the route of Renton’s mad dash, right to the point of his collision with a car…but I have to admit, I have no idea if I did or not. By this point – after previously getting hopelessly lost on exiting Waverley station* – I followed in the footsteps of those who knew better. For yes, if it weren’t for some of ReelScotland coming to the rescue, I’d still be walking the wrong way and begging change for a cup of tea by now.
With free drinks and plenty of pretty things to look at, it was a damn fine little exhibition. Only once (twice, maybe?) did I panic about beer only for it to appear on a silver tray. I highly advise keeping an eye on the exploits of See Film Differently…and if they appear in a venue near you, enter that ticket draw with haste. It’ll be fun. You can find See Film Differently on facebook or follow @volkswagenfilm on twitter for updates on future events.
So now I’ve doubled in age, does Trainspotting still hold up? Hell yes, of course it does. I hadn’t seen it in a few years, so to be reminded of forgotten scenes, great shot set-ups and beautiful colour work was a good thing. I’m not one of those people who watched it endlessly and could quote the hell out of it, so lines that were as fresh – and in many cases as hilarious – on first viewing, hit me with as much of a punch this time round.
A massive thank you to See Film Differently and Will Francis of Tribal DDB for the invitation, and another massive thank you to Ross MacLean and Richard Bodsworth of ReelScotland for the fabulous company and directional help!
*If you know Edinburgh at all, you will realise how ridiculous this actually is. This, is why I do not drive. Pray for your lives if I ever try.
