Choose Life

Trainspotting is a 1996 British black comedy/drama film directed by Danny Boyle based on the novel of the same name by Irvine Welsh. 

The screenplay follows a group of heroin addicts in a late 1980's economically depressed area of Edinburgh. Beyond drug addiction, other themes in the film are exploration of the urban poverty and squalor in "culturally rich" Edinburgh.

The film has been ranked 10th by the BFI in its list of Top 100 British films of all time. In 2004 the film was voted the best Scottish film of all time in a general public poll.

Trainspotting has one of the most iconic opening scenes in British Film. The fast pace action is matched with the brilliant tune from Iggy Pop creates an engaging, stimulating opening.

The variation of camera shots make it seem like a lot is going on which reflects the nature of the film. Furthermore, the facts the two characters are being chased by policemen presents to the audience immediately the type of characters and hints and some of the key events that happen in the film. Additionally, the car hitting Renton may be seen a metaphor for his 'flirting with death' (heroin addiction).

The film includes so many iconic quotes and moments. The opening scene includes the famous 'choose life' speech. This for me is what makes the opening so memorable. 

Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television, Choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players, and electrical tin can openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol and dental insurance. Choose fixed-interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisure wear and matching luggage. Choose a three piece suite on hire purchase in a range of fucking fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who the fuck you are on a Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing fucking junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pissing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, fucked-up brats you have spawned to replace yourself. Choose your future. Choose life . . . But why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life: I chose something else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you've got heroin?