The Opening of the Film - Sarah

The news reel at the beginning is quite an important aspect to the film. Before the story has began, audiences are given an insight to what the City of Sheffield was like before the collapse if the steel industry. Without this, audiences that do not have any understanding of it may struggle to understand the feeling of the characters. With it audiences are given a look into what it was like for people who lived in cities such as Sheffield during the height of Industrialism.
There is almost something satirical about the comments made in the news reel. The Voice over states at on point the 'Sheffield - A City on the Move!" This comment was obviously made in regard to the success of the steel factories in Sheffield and how the city was developing. However, if you look at this comment in reference to the way the city turned out 25 years later, it could be seen that the move the city made was to lose its success and become the deprived area it now is.
Following the news reel, we then see main character Gary, Dave and Nathan in a desolate factory. This shows the change from what is seen in the news reel. Which shows men hard at work in busy factories and people enjoying themselves in newly built shopping centres. The comparison between the two shows the audience the drastic change between the city over time. It's almost hard to believe that it is the same city.

The news reel, for how short it is, is surprisingly imporatant. Without it, audiences may have difficulty connecting with the characters and the situatiuon they are in. It could be quite easy to judge the characters and lazy. But having seen what they've lost, and the opportunities they had to what they have now allows the audience to feel comparison towards the characters.