This acts as a bookend to the montage at the beginning of the film. The newsreel footage being shown focuses entirely on the Falklands war though, unlike the earlier one.
It opens with the Union Jack being raised above the capitol of the Falklands islands. However, this victory looks insignificant and small. It doesn’t manage to carry the glorious noble vibes that many wanted it to be like. Shane Meadows through this, is commenting on the conflict between the people and the event due to the unnecessary aspect to the war. Earlier in the film when Combo is talking about the Falklands war he says that it is unnecessary and pointless, this is what Shane Meadows thought as well. This makes Combo a more conflicted character though. In addition to these thoughts and messages, the music playing is mournful and is the same music that accompanies all of the negative aspects in the film.
There is then a parade through the street, but it is not as magnificent as many would imagine, instead it looks small and not unorganised. Then, the soldiers are shown to be drinking alcohol out of the bottle which isn’t disciplined. They are the military and by doing this, this seems to be going against what the military stands for. The soldiers fighting here are not behaving in the best way.
There are then shots of rounding up of prisoners of war. Soldiers had been fighting in whatever clothes they had. By showing a man looking cold and scared, the war seems more real and pointless. The reality of war is truly shown at this point in the film. This is expanded on by shots of soldiers being carried away from the destruction. When people see the reality of death, everything seems to be out in perspective. What was the benefit of this war truly. A British battleship is then shown on the water, but this is just a show of wealth and a symbol of Britain’s power.
The shots of the returning soldiers show that the families are happy to have their soldiers back, but at the same time, it feels staged. The sailor and the woman kissing seems to be put on for the camera, a photo opportunity that someone has been waiting to capture.
After the montage ends, Shaun is holding the picture of his dead dad, the same way that the opening sequence ends. However, he is holding it now showing that he has come to terms with the death and can truly mourn his death.