63 Up

Each time a new instalment arrives, my admiration and respect for the participants grows. They show a real and courageous dedication to the series and its importance, and I'm always mindful that the effects from this level of exposure have not always been positive for them.

Michael Apted has, at times, been guilty of some insensitive and perhaps inappropriate questioning, and has been taken to task quite robustly by his interviewees. And rightly so. It's academic now as to whether or not Mr Apted, a very successful international film director, has actually possessed the empathy to make him the right person to steer this project. But then, without some of his deliberate provocations, would there have been the great, intense moments we've seen? The result, for better or worse, is a sum of all its parts.

It's been a real privilege to visit these old friends every seven years, and share their lives' success, failures, loves and tragedies. In a world full of celebrity for its own sake and superficiality, there is an authenticity here that is rarely found. They deserve our thanks for sharing part of themselves with us. They certainly have mine.

First, let's address the flaws of the program. The series explores the class system in England and how it determines the opportunities afforded each child. Each series begins with the quote "Give me a child until he is 7 and I will show you the man." Finally, the attitude of the filmmakers toward women is evident, especially in the earliest episodes. The subjects also complain of the superficiality of the series, constrained to half-hour segments on each person every 7 years.

True enough. Yet the series is mesmerizing for revealing changing attitudes and circumstances and how individuals cope with all the struggles we encounter as we age. Career advancement, relationship struggles, financial issues, health and death are glimpsed through the camera lens. Just to see the bright-eyed children at 7 and to see, even superficially, how each individual creates and lives a life reveals something of an era and themselves. The participants are subjected to the most intimate and sometimes mundane questions. Yet, for the most part, they continue to participate and kudos to them. I hope it gives them a chance to reflect and some perspective. I wonder if you would recognize the 7 year old I once was with the mature adult I am now.

63 UP (Michael Apted, 2019). In limited release.

The world's greatest ever cinema experiment enters with it's latest installment - 56+ years in the making. At this point, the films are far removed from being stand-alone projects.One must have seen a few of the previous episodes (spaced 7 years apart since 1964) in order to fully appreciate the marvelous work Michael Apted and his team have achieved. And, now, as the group (originally 14 children) have broached the 60 year threshold, the mortality factor has certainly become the overwhelming obstacle to the series continuing. The first of the 14 has already passed on, another is very ill, and two more participants declined being interviewed (one for the very first time; the second (Charles) left in the late-70s/early 80s). Still, as melancholy a Doc as 63 UP is, it's still a fine piece of work. I began watching the series with 1984's 28 UP, and haven't missed one since (I've also caught up with 2 of the 3 other entries recently). So, to see the remaining eleven men and women is like catching up with old friends. American viewers are used to 'reality show' celebrities now, but, keep in mind, this group have been major celebrities in England for much of the past five decades. Tony, the ex-cabbie even relates a story of a passenger asking for his autograph when they were all in the company of Buzz Aldrin - the 2nd man to walk on the moon! Filmmaker Michael Apted (COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER, WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH) is now 78. Apted was a researcher on the original film (now dubbed 7 UP), and has directed all the subsequent films (he told me he had a contingency plan in place in case he wasn't able to finish future episodes). See you in seven years. On to 70 UP

As I watched 63 Up on Britbox, I recalled hearing about it many years ago. I am pleased that I watched it and even more so because I did some reasearch on the series. As a matter of fact, for several days afterwards, I couldn't get away from reading more about it and the people who participated in it...how they started out as part of this lifelong series and how their lives have changed. I give them full credit for sharing their lives and wonder if the creators of the series ever realized how historic and ground breaking the project would be.

The show is absolutely mesmerizing. I feel a certain chill, knowing these people are younger that I am and I am reading about how their lives are slowly drawing to a close. Also there is a real possibility that this great series may have reached the end, particularly now that the director Michael Apted has recently died. I certainly hope that it does continue but it is up to the participants to decide. If it doesn't, it is still a tremendous achievement. I was particularly struck by one of them who, after a very successful life, revealed that he is now facing a potentially terminal illness. Another of the participants talked about his regret at not having a father figure to look up to and now is a very happy and fulfilled human being with something like eight children. Very exceptional for a baby boomer who lived in the same time frame as the others in the series.

It is very moving in the sense that it provides documented evidence of the changes a group of human beings go through as they age, not only physically but in their personal experience. It is understandable that there would be criticisms of the director and some of the questions he asked. We all have personal limitations and certain biases and my sense is that Michael Apted deserves full credit for staying with the project for so long. The film deserves a place in the history of film making and I sincerely hope the time will come when it is so recognized.

The 9th episode of an epic documentary series that I really think everyone should watch at some point in their lives. It is so powerful with its simplicity honesty that anyone can easily find something relevant to them. Witnessing how people change over the years but also how they don't change, understanding the importance of our early years and how they shape our future, the goals that we want to achieve in life and the ones we fail to achieve. It's all here.

A group of people from different backgrounds who were born in 1957 are interviewed every 7 years. (p.s. need to start from first one "Seven Up")