Another 7 years later and we’re right back here. Michael Apted‘s Up Series of documentaries is one of the great achievements in filmmaking, and ever since catching up to it ahead of the release of 56 Up, it has become, without doubt, this critic’s most anticipated series with each succeeding entry. One of the great joys of Apted returning to his favorite subjects is the ability to share with those unaware of the concept of the series, and what purpose it serves. So if you’ll allow me to do the honors:
The Up series began in 1964, with the intent and purpose of potentially proving the adage “show me the child at the age of 7, and I’ll give you the man.” In reality, the original intent of the first feature, Seven Up, was to basically highlight the varying strata of England’s class system: from the posh prep school elite to the middle and working class to the poor. The filmmakers (of which Apted was the Assistant Director) chose 14 children, all aged 7, to represent these varying populations. In turn, they’re asked all forms of questions, about their thoughts on life, the opposite sex, their parents, school, those of other economic classes and more.
It’s a perfectly short and pleasant film. But the real draw, and the innovation that took hold within the series, is that Apted decided to carry on with the same 14 children every 7 years. And so, through the decades, and films like 7 Plus Seven, 21 Up, 28 Up, etc., Apted has brought viewers back into the lives of these individuals. The series watches them as they’ve grown up, gone to university or not, gotten married, had children, gotten divorced, faced incredible adversity, found stable careers, and all the while, they’ve shared their respective thoughts and feelings on the UK (except for the one who moved to Australia and another to the US) socially, politically, economically, and where they feel like they fit into that overall picture.
With 63 Up, things take a much more introspective turn. That’s easy to expect, given that they’re all now firmly in their 60’s. But it was hard to not feel a bit blue watching each segment as it clicked along. Some have found serenity, such as Sue, one of the working class trio of girls’ that’s entered a blissful stage of her career and family life, or Bruce, the tutor-turned-teacher whose family began later in life. But even they still harbor some lingering worries in the back of their minds, Sue about her mother’s ill health and Bruce about his own weight issues and the impact that has on his long term quality of life. Truly, this eventual turn toward the tragic is simply an inevitably baked into the concept. We all get old, we all lose family members. It’s just a reality, and right now it’s one that each member of the 63 Up‘s cast is facing.
That very same development is what also makes 63 Up one of the most compelling entries in the series, possibly since 28 Up, when we first learned about the tribulations that befell Neil, whose mental health issues (among other factors) drove him into homelessness, or 42 Up, where so many of the cast found themselves starting over again and starting new chapters with the fraying of marriages or other unexpected changes that often accompany that uprising towards middle age. 63 Up finds many of these participants now facing the real prospect of death and the final years of their lives being closer than not. Sadly, nowhere is this more true than with with Nick, the now physics professor who moved to the United States, and is now fighting an aggressive form of throat cancer. Speaking at length clearly being a struggle, and water at hand, so much of his conversations with Apted are focused on his fears for his own family and how much time he may really have left. It’s absolutely heartbreaking to witness, ten times so if you’ve followed him along on this journey. Ever since seeing it, I’ve thought about him every day.
But there are other struggles that make their way to the fore as well, such as Tony, the taxi driver, who has faced financial strain due to the on-rush of services like Uber. He also tearfully mentions the troubles his daughter has undergone, challenges that are not elaborated in any way, but simply knowing they exist is enough to bring to bear just what kind of strife has entered into his family’s life. Though one of the more fascinating aspects is the political discussion that is entered into in his segment. It’s one of the very few discussions of Brexit throughout the film surprisingly, but it’s a turn of events that I would not have expected based on Tony’s seeming political lean over the last 14 years.
Similarly, John, a veteran barrister and one of the private school, upper class, children at the outset of the project, has a bit of a different take on Britain’s class struggles, arguing how much more difficult it is for those that come from his walk of life today than it was in the 60’s and 70’s. I’m not sure his theory takes particularly solid shape, but it still gives you a tremendous bit of insight into someone who has been perhaps unfairly portrayed as the poster child of privilege throughout the project. That blowback also takes shape in Jackie’s appearance in the film, another of the previously alluded to working class trio, who again takes Apted to task for how he frames his questions towards the women involved in the series. They’ve entered a bit of a detente phase, but the level of resentment is still clearly present.
And of course, there’s Neil; arguably, as stated above, no one has faced the adversity he has throughout the past 40-plus years. But to see him turn much of his life around, to finding some level of real stability, even marriage (though it seems to be evaporating) is rather heartening. It seems as though through politics, as an active office holder in the Liberal Democratic party, and through faith, he may have finally discovered some peace in the turmoil that’s waylayed him for so long.
It’s easy to get lost in the weeds here, but each segment of 63 Up is a captivating tale of advancing age, facing the unknown, their own legacies and opening for some what might be the final chapter in their lives. With one participant (Lynn) having already passed away, that possibility becomes more real every year, but it’s in how they shape these twilight years that really defines them. The Up Series is meticulously rendered time capsule of the Baby Boom generation, and one of the most important endeavors in film history, with 63 Up its most poignant chapter. I very much look forward to 70 Up and can only hold out hope that all involved will be there to join us.