63 Up


63 Up

Anyone here familiar with the 7 Up and subsequent documentaries?

This was a UK documentary series started in 1964 by director Michael Apted.

The concept was that he would film a group of children in the UK aged 7, from varying backgrounds and different parts of the UK. Some from wealthy homes, some poor, some middle class, some from the North, some from the South etc. He basically interviewed them on various subjects, and questioned them on what they wanted to do when they got older.

Then he would revisit them every 7 years and make a fresh documentary. Which he actually did. It's a fascinating experiment, and a compelling watch. I actually watched it from the very first episode. 

The changes that the group go through are fascinating...sometimes sad, sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes tragic. But there are also surprises in the different turns some of the groups lives take. 

I just recieved the latest episode on blu ray...63 Up. Hard to believe the series is still going and the participants are still here (apart, sadly, for one). And more importantly that they are still willing to share their experiences and participate. 

One of the most fascinating social TV experiments ever, and an incredible achievement. I highly recommend watching these if you get the chance. They are utterly fascinating.

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I just finished this. It's my favorite documentary, but sad they only do it once every 7 years. I knew Lynn died, but didn't know Paul had throat cancer. Who knows who'll be around next time? Maybe they'll outlive me? Who knows?

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I finished it last night as well.

I was left thinking that these people are now in their autumn years, and I guess little is likely to change in their lives from now on. I could of course be wrong.

Inevitably, 7 years from now we dont know who will still be with us...even Michael Apted himself.

I wonder if someone should start a new series of 7 Up for a new generation maybe?

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I've watched the series, and as you said, they're fascinating, sometimes sad, sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes tragic. I look forward to seeing 63 Up when it becomes available here in the US. I binge-watched 7-49 and a few weeks later saw 56. Among other things, it reminds one of just how fast life goes by. I recommend it.

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I do wonder what happens next, if there will be a 70 Up. Simply because at that age there are unlikely to be any big changes in peoples lives, apart from the inevitable health issues and probably bereavement.

But their careers are over so nothing will happen on that front.

Am I wrong, or does anyone want to see what these people are doing in their autumn years?

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I, for one, am curious to see how their autumn years are going. Have you ever gone back and re-watched the earlier episodes?

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No, because each new episode always shows you the main bits of the previous docs for each person from the various years.

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I'll watch all of them.. There's nothing else as interesting.

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I have always heard about these films but I don't recall seeing them readily available. Keep in mind, I'm old school, so I generally either catch things in the theater, on broadcast TV or renting. I've never been terribly interested in Documentary as a film genre but a good movie is a good movie.
The great director Richard Linklater has experimented with this concept with his fictional "Before ..." movies and "Boyhood." I saw Before Sunrise and really wished I was Ethan Hawke, but things get more serious as these characters get older.
I do agree with others that visiting adults every seven years may not be compelling and might be depressing but I'm not of a mind that Art and Entertainment has to always be cheerful and fun or action packed. Somewhat to the contrary.

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