49 Up

Arguably the most fascinating project in the history of documentary film, 49 Up is the seventh installment of the remarkable series begun in 1964 when filmmaker Michael Apted was part of a crew that set out to examine the Jesuit maxim "give me a child until he is seven, and I will show you the man," interviewing 14 British boys and girls--each seven years old--for the film 7 Up. Every seven years, Apted has returned to his original subjects, 13 of whom are still willing to be interviewed (although one woman says that she is dropping out for the future), and recorded their thoughts on work, love, and family--comparing the hopes and dreams of earlier days to the realities of middle age. Echoing Wordsworth's line that "the child is father of the man," a trio of upper class kids named John, Andrew, and Charles not only detail their educational and professional itineraries at the age of seven, but at 21, have largely followed their set-in-concrete pathways to the letter, while on the other end of the spectrum, Neil, a once bright-eyed country boy who became a homeless drifter throughout his twenties and thirties, continues to find stability and purpose as an elected councilor and volunteer pastor. In 49 Up, the emphasis is twofold: first, many of the subjects seem to be really settling into their mid-century lives, part of solid middle-class families who closely follow their children's fledgling careers and revel in the antics of grandchildren; second, more than ever before Apted probes the interviewees about the project itself—asking them how they feel about the continuing incursions into their privacy—and receives a wide range of responses, some of which are openly acrimonious. In any case, we owe huge thanks to both Apted and the men and women who have continued to participate, sharing life's triumphs and tragedies, from successful careers and building families to dead-end jobs and divorce. Presented in sequential segments, 49 Up is a veritable wonder, as we watch--to quote a Talking Heads song--"people like us" on life's incredible journey. DVD extras include an excellent half-hour discussion between Apted and film critic Roger Ebert. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: C, P. (R. Pitman)