Film opening scene- continuity sequence.

 

 

Trainspotting.

 

I have chosen to analyse the opening scene of Trainspotting as it is a very good example of a well constructed continuity sequence. Trainspotting is a British black comedy/drama film which was made in 1996, directed by Danny Boyle.

 

The main focus of the opening scene is our main character running through the town, away from some policemen. It is effectively, a chase scene. It is a scene from later on in the film but it was used in the opening scene to foreshadow what happens later on in the film. We are introduced to the characters with close ups of their faces and their feet, these shots show us that they are running away from someone/something and have probably committed a crime as they have objects flying from their pockets. There is a tracking shot in this scene which makes it clear to us as an audience which character is the main focus and who is talking in the voiceover. As we are introduced to the characters the shot freezes on their profile and their name appears on the frame so we can tell which character is which. This helps a lot with clarifying the main group of characters from the very beginning and assists with the narrative flow.

The setting changes to a football pitch where most of the characters are playing a game which is a good way of introducing a group of characters at the same time. The camera moves to follow the players as they try to play football. The cuts in this scene have been continually fast paced which is then suddenly changes to a panning shot of the main character laying on the floor in the empty apartment. In this scene, the main character (Ewan MacGregor) is very chilled out which creates a very relaxed atmosphere which grows to be a very uneasy and negative atmosphere towards to the end of the scene when it becomes clear to us that his drug habit has lead to him having a wasteful and seemingly pointless existence.