Reality is not Enough

Irvine Welsh has never been one to follow convention, and Reality Is Not Enough, the new documentary exploring his life and work, makes no attempt to domesticate him. Directed with verve and a certain punk sensibility, the film is a vivid, sprawling exploration of the man behind Trainspotting, Filth, and the many other brutally honest depictions of working-class Scottish life. It’s a gripping watch — though not without its flaws.

The documentary traces Welsh’s journey from the grey, council-flat streets of Leith to international literary stardom, charting his rebellious youth, his immersion in the 80s club scene, and his rise as the voice of disaffected Scotland. Through a mix of archival footage, stylised recreations, and candid interviews, Welsh’s chaotic energy pulses through the narrative like a clubland bassline.

The film shines when it lets Welsh be Welsh. His charisma, humour, and brutally self-aware insights make him an electric on-screen presence. Hearing him reflect on addiction, class, politics, and the commodification of art is both enlightening and darkly entertaining. He’s a provocateur, yes, but also deeply principled in his disdain for hypocrisy and elitism.

Director Paul Sng takes a nonlinear approach, echoing the structure of Welsh’s novels — fractured, frenetic, and layered. While this style occasionally veers into disorientation, it mostly works in capturing the anarchic spirit of its subject. The editing is bold, with sudden tonal shifts, cut-up imagery, and a kinetic pace that keeps things engaging. Interspersed throughout, Welsh’s prose is read by a series of actors’ voices while abstract images flow across the screen, allowing the audience to focus entirely on his compelling language.

However, for all its flair, the documentary occasionally feels a little too in awe of its subject. While it doesn’t entirely shy away from Welsh’s contradictions — his flirtation with fame, his shifting political positions, his controversial takes — it often softens them. A deeper dive into his detractors, or more time spent analysing his later works and their reception, would have added balance.

Still, Reality Is Not Enough is a compelling portrait — less a biography than a cinematic riff on Welsh’s worldview. It captures the electricity of a writer who blew the lid off polite literary fiction and brought raw, working-class voices screaming onto the page and screen. It’s messy, funny, brash, and occasionally brilliant — much like the man himself.

In the end, while the documentary doesn’t quite reach the heights of definitive, it absolutely succeeds as an immersive, high-octane celebration of one of Scotland’s most provocative and influential cultural figures. For fans of Welsh, and for those interested in the intersection of art, class, and rebellion, this is essential viewing.

★★★★
Reality may not be enough — but for 90 minutes, this comes pretty close.