Rating: 
Summary: Life at 42
Review: 42 Up has a sort of slow rhythm that can take a while to get into, but this isn't to say that it's boring. It's actually a fascinating few hours of videotape, and I wish more had been included. I think that most individuals watching this find themselves making comparisons between their own life and those of the people featured in the Up series, but there are also other interesting things to be found here--most notable being the brief section on perceptions and experiences of socioeconomic class in British society.Watching this footage, I was struck by the commonalities in the way everyone seemed to approach life at different stages. By age 42, most of them seem to have become calmer and more satisfied with their lives than they once were. At ages 14 and 21, the interviewees were visibly nervous (lots of giggling, foot-tapping, and looking anywhere but the camera). At 28 and 35 a sort of false bravado about life seemed to predominate. But at 42, it's a quiet confidence that is most evident (maybe the beginning of what we call wisdom?). It was interesting how people's general outlooks on life seemed to stay with them from childhood on. This was not always the case, but often was. People with positive attitudes tended to remain positive into middle age, while the pessimists retained their own outlooks. I found this surprising. Another interesting thing was that many of the people in the film seemed to find that here they were, 42, and that life had happened to them. True, some had plans at 7 that they ended up following through on, but so many seemed to have fallen into lives they never particularly wished for. The best-laid plans... I found myself identifying with the person who said he looked forward to aging. It is so interesting to watch the personal development of ourselves and others, and to revel in our growth and generally-increasing happiness. I also identified with apparently-popular Neil and his background of introversion and depression. It was good to see that he found ways to control and channel the pain he must have felt for many years into something that is giving meaning to some part of the world. Humans have the potential to be so resilient. Though it sounds like many of those featured in this series have had a troubling time with its periodic intrusion into their lives, I think they are brave for staying with it. I am not at all sure I would be able to cope with something like this in my own life, and am certain that I would not want any of my life at 21 captured on film--it would be too painful. Someone here did mention that as a result of the series, every seven years they had to deal with painful memories all over again. On the production side of things, I agree with another reviewer that there is too much focus here on love found, lost, and found again (with a definite assumption of heterosexuality). I would prefer to hear a little less narration (about marriages and divorces), and to hear more about people's lives as they themselves describe them. More about the first-hand experience of connecting with another person would be welcome, however. Basically - less from the narrator, more from the interviewees. Thanks to all the film's participants for helping make possible a bird's-eye view of the course of human life and its prevailing themes.
Rating:
Summary: apted just keeps getting better
Review: 42 up is the next installment in apted's series. he took 14 seven year old british children and interviewed them. he has returned to film and interview them every seven years and they are now 42 years old (or they were when he filmed it in 1998). the most fascinating thing about this and his other films, is to see the development of a real person's dreams, goals, and reality over a lifetime. people who have seen the others (7up, 14up...35up) will be fascinated to see the changes in the lives of these intriguing people. neil, the man who went from a cute, confident boy to a homeless, mentally ill adult, has a pretty drastic change happen in his life (i won't break the suspense) that past viewers will be anxious to see. this film comes highly recommended by all the film critics i have read, receiving at least 3 1/2 stars or more. get this film before they turn 49.
Rating:
Summary: A touching look at the aging process
Review: Although this series provides many insights into class, racial issues, and gender roles, it also provides us with insights on our own lives and development over time. In this most recent episode we see people who have become content in their early 40's, beginning to deal with the fact that their children will soon be leaving the nest and with their own parents' deaths. It was nice to see there can be a happy future for smirking, know-it-all adolescents, although I wonder if the folks from a wealthier background even now realize how much of an advantage they had. I was amazed, by the way, to see how well spoken they are and how caring and responsible they seem, with no signs of indifference, rudeness, criminal activity, or even substance abuse. Even the fellow who feels he has mental problems seems rather a good soul with real insights. One wonders how much different our own 7 up would turn out in the U.S.
Rating:
Summary: Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!
Review: Ebert was right on this one - the 7 Up series, now at 42 Up is one of the best films of all time.
Many kudos to director Michael Apted for sticking with these individuals lives and respecting their boundaries, while being able to get intimate with them.
Despite the originators Labour Party-esque intentions, Apted stuck with it and it has revealed that you can't categorize people by political prognostications.
Every person is a valuable part of the whole. They are a timeline in our times. This is done in the UK and where some now live overseas.
In an age of spin, this is the real life. This is the canon for documentaries.
Fantastic, now the whole series is available on DVD.
Looking forward to 49 Up!
Rating:
Summary: This is the canon for documentaries
Review: Ebert was right on this one - the 7 Up series, now at 42 Up is one of the best films of all time. Many kudos to director Michael Apted for sticking with these individuals lives and respecting their boundaries, while being able to get intimate with them. Despite the originators Labour Party-esque intentions, Apted stuck with it and it has revealed that you can't categorize people by political prognostications. Every person is a valuable part of the whole. They are a timeline in our times. This is done in the UK and where some now live overseas. In an age of spin, this is the real life. This is the canon for documentaries. It would be good if the whole series was available. Looking forward to 49 Up!
Rating:
Summary: A subjective point of view.
Review: I am one of the people in this video - so I have strong feelings of various kinds about it. There's no denying it is powerful stuff - Roger Ebert lists this series among `The Great Movies' on his web site (right after `2001, a Space Odyssey' - which amazed me!) What is good about it is that (first) the old film is like a time capsule - it's hard to believe we were ever like that; and (second) that it's like time lapse photography of a flower blooming (or something) - you see different things in people when you see their lives pass at high speed. If we saw enough people fast forwarded like this, we might really learn something. Finally, many people appreciate relating it to their own lives. The bad part is that it is intensely humiliating to be shown answering the most personal questions I have ever seen anybody have to answer on TV. I find it really hard to watch the tapes at all. (So don't get the tape - let me sell you a book on engineering!) (By the way - Apted did not direct the early stuff; he was involved, but it was his first job out of college.)
Rating: 
Summary: Rooting for Neil to get married by 49!
Review: I was struck by
the character Neil, the introverted one who had recovered
enough to attempt being a politician. (recovery? heh :)
What is so striking is the contrast from Neil's childhood happiness
to his introversion and hypersensitivity as an adult as he describes
his fear of passing on his sadness to his offspring. I imagine he must have gone through a transition phase much like the onset
of schizophrenia in young-adulthood that transforms the happy-go-lucky
young boy into the anguished and self-tormented introvert. It is too cruel
to watch such a happy boy grow up to be tortured in such a way! But at least he is now recovering somewhat, in a despairing kind of way,
buoyed up by religion and, the horror, involvement with *people*!
Though, his tranquil trailer life out in the Scottish wilds seemed
to be pretty close to ideal from my point of view. It is also interesting how he is the most 'deep' of the characters
as far as having the capacity for insight and reflection,
yet at the same time he is the most ill-adapted to society!
And yet, also paradoxically, he is the
most popular, as far as audience reaction, of all the people
in the film!
I was quite surprised to read this, having assumed that very few
could relate to him, and that I was one of the very few viewers
who actually understood him :).
It is strange that he touches so many people yet is so
(apparently) different from so many...
Rating:
Summary: documentary filmmaking at its best
Review: In 1964 filmmaker Micheal Apted interviewed a number of seven year olds in England from different economic backgrounds. He has been back to interview them every seven years. The subjects are 42 years old in this film. This is perhaps the most fascinating and poignant documentary series I have ever seen and am likely to see. As you watch this film and see the drama of lives unfold well into middle age, you can't help but to be in awe. This film forces you to ponder on your own life and ask yourself questions. What have we been put on this earth for and what is the true meaning of life? Without giving away the whole film, I will say that a few changes have taken place in peoples lives and most of them have progressed rather nicely since 35 Up. One of the subjects got divorced but is happily remarried at 42. Another subject was actually caught being unfaithful but was forgiven and is still married to the same person. One of the subjects finally gets married at the age of 42, but has concerns about trying to start a family so late. Some of the subjects who've been married for a long time talk about how hard marriage is. Other subjects who have teenagers talk about how difficult they can be. None of the subjects was incarcerated and none of them died yet. I hate to break it to the Neil fans, but he is not doing anything all that big dispite the rumors. Although he is still on welfare, he has managed to find some stability in his life and is keeping himself busy. He still more or less has the same demeanor he had at the age of 35.
Rating:
Summary: One Of The Best
Review: Last week I purchased a video Roger Ebert identifies as one of the best films of all time, Michael Apted's "42 Up". And I wholeheartedly agree. This documentary, released in 2000, is one in a series of films that chronicles the lives of the same 14 people over the course of 35 years. The series' first installment was filmed in 1964. Fourteen, seven year old British children from various socioeconomic backgrounds, were interviewed about their lives, likes and dislikes, as well as their hopes and dreams for the future. Apted has tracked down each of these people every seven years, asking them the same, as well as other questions, to obtain their current status, their here-to-date accomplishments, as well as their disappointments. From each of these episodes of interviews, he has created another film, released shortly after filming, every seven years. The titles of the films denote the participant's ages; hence "7 Up", "14 Up", and so on. The original premise of the series was to test a hypothesis based on an old Hebrew quotation, "Give me the child until the age of seven, and I will show you the man"; the point being that our ultimate status in life reflected by socioeconomic level, our values and culture, are largely determined by the family into which we are born. This question is particularly significant in class conscious Great Britain where class distinctions are particularly apparent, if not a mainstay of their culture. And, the series tends to affirm the hypothesis, as most of the film's protagonists remain in the same socioeconomic group throughout their lives. The beauty of the film, however, is not in scientific investigation. And, one need not see the earlier films to appreciate the ones that follow. In each successive documentary, Apted includes footage from the earlier releases, as well as outtakes that had not been seen previously. Each film stands alone, on its own merit. What we experience, as viewers, is the unfolding and development of lives over time, compressed into a few minutes. We witness their challenges, their satisfactions, and their evolving expectations of themselves. Although Apted's questions are relatively innocuous, through the course of our repeatedly hearing them and their answers, we gain a relatively intimate knowledge of who these people are, and what they want. At times, the camera is unflinchingly honest. The inconsistencies obvious. And, it is also noted that Apted has clearly developed a level of intimacy with his subjects, as they often refer to him in the interviews by his first name. Keep in mind that he first met these people when they were children, and he has periodically checked in with them for nearly as long as they can remember. It is not surprising then, that each film has garnered increasing interest in Great Britain, as those following the series began to anticipate the ongoing sagas and, in some instances, had developed a genuine caring for some of films participants. One individual, Neil, whose life has taken some very difficult turns, received considerable attention. Some met the release of "42 Up" with ambivalence, as they wanted to know what had happened to Neil, but also feared the worse. I can attest to similar feelings, having previously seen the episodes of "28" and "35". Not all of the participants have been pleased with their involvement. One even went so far as to describe the experience as a curse that comes around every seven years. Some have opted out for some of the films; a couple have withdrawn permanently. The value of this work, however, is not derived from voyeurism, but rather, from what is stirred from within ourselves. As we watch the film and observe life's many transitions, we cannot help but to reflect on our own; to take note of where we are, where we have been, and where we have wanted to be. Although "42 Up" was to have been the last in the series, there has been ongoing speculation about a "49". Perhaps that is more telling about our own aspirations, a statement that we are not done yet with our own lives, than being motivated by our curiosity about the lives of others.
Rating:
Summary: A film of unparalleled value
Review: Partly because I am the same age, I feel a strong kinship to the men and women whose lives have been tracked in the "7 Up" documentary series. The film is powerful because it reminds us of our common human experience. Their stories evoke pain when we learn of failed relationships, career setbacks, and the inevitable crises of life that come, for example, with the death of parents. But they also emphasize the great joy that the subjects have found in their children and in their work, leaving one with an overall sense of hope and rejoicing. While the series initially placed great emphasis on class differences, almost hinting that the outcome of each life would hinge heavily on those differences, I think it has revealed something else -- that economic and social class may restrict one's choices and advantages but that they have little bearing on overall contentment. I am so glad Symon has decided to participate in the series again and to share his good news with us, and that Neil is on the path to a new life. While it must be excruciating to endure public scrutiny of one's life every seven years, those who continue to take part in the series have given us a great gift. I wish every one of them a lifetime of happiness.
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