The Mill Valley Film Festival will be screening 63 Up – the latest in Michael Apted’s Seven Up series. Apted himself will appear at the screening. The Seven Up series is one of the great achievements in cinema history, certainly the greatest documentary series ever ,and on my list of Greatest Movie of All Time. Since 1964, we’ve had to wait seven years for each new chapter, and the latest is finally here.
Starting with Seven Up! in 1964, director Michael Apted has followed the same fourteen British children, filming snapshots of their lives at ages 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 and 49 – and now at age 56. Choosing kids from different backgrounds, the series started as a critique of the British class system, but has since evolved into a broader exploration of what factors can lead to success and happiness at different stages of human life. (Apted was the hands-on researcher, not the director on Seven Up! and then directed the next eight films in the series.)
We have seen these characters live roller coaster lives. The surprise in 56 Up was how contented they seemed to be. They seemed to have independently reached a stage in their lives where they live with acceptance and satisfaction. Accordingly, it makes for mellow and pleasing viewing for us.
Michael Apted is a big time director (Coal Miner’s Daughter, Gorillas in the Mist). It is remarkable that he has returned so faithfully to his subjects in the Up series.
Because Apted includes clips from earlier films to set the stage for each character, you don’t need to watch all nine movies. Because there is so much turbulence in the earlier films and so little conflict in 56 Up , it would be ideal to first screen an edgier film like 35 Up or 42: Forty Two Up. The earlier films are difficult, perhaps impossible, to find streaming, but the entire series {Seven Up!, Seven Plus Seven, 21 Up, 28 Up, 35 Up, 42 Up, 49 Up, 56 Up} is available on Netflix DVDs. 56 Up stands on its own, and it’s streamable on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, YouTube, Google Play and Kanopy.
The MVFF will screen 63 Up on October 8, and you can read more and buy tickets on page 15 of the MVFF program.
