T2 is supposed to be 20 years after the end of the first film, yet it gives the impression that it is set in the present. However, the original Trainspotting was set in the 1980s, so when exactly is T2 meant to be?
late 2000s early 2010s, Trainspotting is late 80 early 90s
sharetrainspotting is all 90's. That's why it's the most iconic film of the 90's
shareThe original Trainspotting was clearly showing the move into the 90s - hence the 'new drugs, new music' focus in the second half of the film. Made/released in 1996 maybe - but doesn't really get beyond 1991/92. T2 is positioned as 20 years later - but the references to apps, current social media and later model smartphones clearly show it as 'present day'. I just squared it off with a bit of poetic license with the timeline.
shareThe first Trainspotting was set in 1996, the second in 2016
shareThe first film was early/mid 90's but don't forget to take off 10 years to adjust for Scotland, possibly why a few are confused
shareBeing from Scotland, I can confirm the Azad chain of videos didn't last much past the early 90s. The reason Renton mentions Archie Gemmill's goal in 78 is probably because it wasn't that long ago for him. They didn't visit a 80s retro club when Renton met Diane, so it was playing music of the era, and when they go Clubbing in London and Renton talks about drugs changing, that would point to the late 80s Rave scene. Also £16,000 or £4,000 each wouldn't have been considered a life changing sum in the 90's. So basically late 80s at most, with poetic license for the 20 years later.
shareThen why did Danny Boyle and Ewan McGregor both state that it was set in the mid 90's? And why do the clothes, music, vehicles, etc. all point to the mid 90's?
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dies ist meine unterschrift
There seems to be some conflicting info here. Do you have a link to where they specifically state it was set mid nineties? It's set late 80's. I grasped that from the clothes and décor. Go to the trainspotting goofs section of imdb, the scene where Begbie, Simon and Mark are sitting eating fish suppers in the London bedsit is considered to be a goof because theres a KFC Pepsi cup in the shot which wasn't released till the early 90's. I take that as confirmation about the timeline.
shareclothes are 90's. I had a dress like Diane's, Renton was typical 90's grunge.
shareIrvine Welsh, the author of the book, says it was set around 1982-1987.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnHTJkDd2ZM
(at 02:44)
It's not really clear in the video if he's referring only to the book or if the film is also set in this time period. If it's just the book set then you could argue the film doesn't necessarily have to have been set back then as well, but either way '82-87 was the timeframe for the book, and therefore the spirit of these times is what the film attempts to capture.
However I've always found the great thing about Trainspotting (book/film/sequel etc) is that it's very hard to pin down in specifics. It's set in a general era rather than a specific year and so it tries to capture the essence of that era.
It would be strange for T2 to come out and make a comment on say 2010 or so and act like the last few years haven't happened.
As far as the vehicles looking like they're from the nineties remember the first trainspotting film was made on a low budget and many of the outdoor scenes where filmed quickly and without a permit. Likely they had no control over the cars and wouldn't have the budget of something like mad men which makes sure to show only period-specific vehicles.
(Also this reply is to address several comments on this thread, not just yours krypton_son, not trying to single you out or anything. I know some of my points aren't relevant to your post.)
16k and 4k to someone on benefits from an extremely poor place would've thought that was a lot of money, and it was a considerable sum in the 90's. Clubs can play song's from a few years beforehand without it being retro (6 years does not equate to retro). There was a massive rave culture in the 90's not just the 80's.
The clothes were typical for the 90's.
Despite all this the diector has stated it's set in the 90's and it's the most iconic film of the 90's.
Ah see the £16k has been viewed with London weighting ;) Definitely 1990s in Scottish values, especially pee Holyrood.
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