Not pro or anti... just a realistic depiction

Rating: 9/10 (13 February 2000)

A good number of personal acquaintances condemned _Trainspotting_ on the grounds that it glorifies drug use. Any engaged viewing of this film, however, cannot bear out this comment. Equally, I don't believe you can say that this is an anti-drug film.
_Trainspotting_ merely presents the raw facts of addiction, leaving judgements of value to the viewer. In doing so, however, it also poses questions regarding the social construction of harm with reference to drug use - what constitutes a "good" and a "bad" drug. Most obviously, the most unstable and openly violent characters depicted are alcohol users; other more subtle comments include the importance of the health system in the procuring of drugs for uses deemed illegitimate by society and the almost constant presence of another legal drug - that is, tobacco.
At times, _Trainspotting_ portrays people and events that are exceedingly ugly. This in and of itself turns many viewers away. However, despite many grim scenes, I don't see this movie as depressing. The ending, certainly, is upbeat, and the film, taken as a whole, is an affirmation. A great cinematic experience.