SYNOPSIS

Smart, funny, sickly and sometimes just plain unconscious, Mark Renton is a hero of our times. Set in an underbelly of Edinburgh the city fathers never dreamed of, this is the story of Mark and his so-called friends–a bunch of losers, liars, psychos, thieves and junkies. This tragi-comedy charts the disintegration of their friendship as they proceed, seemingly inevitably, towards self-destruction. Mark alone has the insight and opportunity to escape his fate–but does he really want to choose life? On and off heroin, he continually weighs the pros and cons of straight living: car, career, family, fucking big television, washing machines, compact disc players, electrical tin openers, good health, low cholesterol, dental insurance, starter home, leisurewear, and a choice of sweaters… When he breaks it all down, choosing life doesn’t seem all that promising and he’s off to the next scheme and score.


TRAILER


RELEASE DATE

August 23, 1996

DIRECTOR

Danny Boyle

WRITER

Irvine Welsh (novel), John Hodge (screenplay)

COMPANY

Channel Four Films

GENRE

Comedy, Crime, Drama

CERT

18

RUNTIME

94 minutes

IMAGES