7-Up (The Michael Apted documentary series)

these are all on netflix USA, we are slowly (because of newborn who seemingly wants to go to bed every time we are ten minutes into an episode) getting through them, and they are wonderful. marcello is talking nonsense above, watching each episode and letting it unfold in full is clearly the best way to watch this. heart breaking every couple of minutes. we are only halfway through 21 Up but I am already pretty worried for about half of them. and oh my god, what a picture of britain's class system this is. also noticed that in the first episode the voiceover talks about meeting Britain's future business leaders and union leaders - seemingly not realising how marginalised union leaders will be in the future.

funny that

i think that's my point? that what's taken as inevitable in 1963 is almost demolished by the time the series hits its later volumes?

it's fascinating seeing the changes in society as the series wears on, the pre-echoes and ripples of the change that surrounds them.

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/jun/01/seven-up-at-63-documentary-michael-apted-cameraman-george-jesse-turner-interview

I'm at least three behind, maybe four. I've got a box set up to 49, I think, that I can't play because it's the wrong region.

calz, it's easy to make any DVD player region free, a Google search with your model number will tell you how.

Wrong poster, but thanks, I'll look into that.

I really need to start wearing my glasses more

Haven't watched any of these, is it worth watching all of them from the start?

yes

Absolutely, though maybe watch the first three & then leave a year between each. Not only will this give a better feel for time passing, they got very recappy for a few decades in the middle, and you’d likely get fatigued if bingeing.

Each contains a bit of flashback/recap, but they're all great and worth seeing from the start.

It really is, but you do start to get tired of repeated clips.

You should break them up with his Bond film and Coal Miner's Daughter and pretend they're part of the series.

So Lynn died, I was wondering if they'd all be around for this one.

And what of the other 12 participants? Well, the passage of time has brought death and illness to some. “This time we lost Lynn, who died in 2013. It was hard. But we have made a true documentary about these lives that is also a document of the times. The clothes and the buildings all change with the people.”

It'd be nice if they could re-edit all of them to remove the recaps (to a greater extent) as a "new series"

God, this is a tough watch now. Sue was a ray of light as ever.

I found it easier to watch than the 49 up one. The loss of youth must upset me more than the decline into decrepitude, I guess.

i watched 7-49 over the span of a few days and it was a surreal but amazing experience.

Imagine the experience would be similar to watching either the Apu or Antoine Doinel films consecutively, also to a certain extent Boyhood.

The skip 30sec button is v useful for those recaps.

I found marathoning them to be such a powerful experience, seeing people age in unexpected ways as if you're in a Victorian time machine.

The second episode dips in interest considerably, with a rather dull run of Bruce, Jackie and Lynn (rip).

oops - and Peter (who I seem to have nearly forgotten already)

bruce was a bit dull yes and peter's terrible band is terrible but i liked when jackie was telling apted off, plus lynn worked near where i live so that was good also, spotting shots of bethnal green etc

Nothing dull about Jackie and Lynn imo

Apted maybe should have followed up Peter's comment about leaving the Labour party rather than just do the standard "What do you think about Brexit?" but yes, Peter not very fertile ground.

It's a shame they've questioned the value of carrying on the series, on the grounds that it would descend into "covering people just getting older". That we characterise the experience of post-retirement years as that is maybe something the Up series could challenge.

Just realised laat night that Suzy has dropped out this time, skewing the gender split even more.

Yes, that's a shame. It would have been good to see. She must struggle in particular with seeing the same clips brought out.

I'm questioning my own sensitivity, as Jackie and Lynn do and did have interesting lives with their high points and tragedies. Lynn's work was a meaningful achievement and struggle and it was good to see it recognised. And it was sad to see her family grieving her at the end.

But I did find something very flat about the overall presentation in this episode that left me dissatisfied.

Suzy's clips from 21 Up are amazing, and I can understand that her real life is always going to be a bit too normal and will always be compared to that time, so can understand if she's out.

lol i finally checked the wikipedia page to find out more abt the -- as i had completely misremembered it -- quite a few ppl who had dropped out over the years, only to discover that it's just two (charles and suzy) plus lyn obviously. apted's feud with charles (who is a documentary film-maker) is funny.

Peter showing up again to promote his band was the best shit ever.

again!

I meant in 56, to be clear

haha ok, in that case i meant "twice!"

Peter showing up again to promote his band was the best shit ever.

― reggae mike love (polyphonic), Thursday, June 6, 2019 10:34 PM (four minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

My favourite thing about this was imagining the months of persuasion it took from the other members of the band

Is the next one the last? Calling the whole thing '7 to 70' or something and then leaving it would be.. quite good?

apted has said he like to still be doing it for 84up (when he will be 99)

stuff happens to people after age 70 iirc

Great third episode.

Where is this available in the US?

1st episode is on youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PR2_Ym4nkJw

This guy has everything 7 through 49 if you're looking to catch up

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYoC-f99Vb37jfNe6SOGCqw/videos

Thanks. I'm not even sure I saw the last one, seems like much more than 7 years have passed.

RIP

did not know he directed so many other movies

Oh man

last Feb, saw the trailer for 63 Up in a cinema and winced just to think of how Brexity some of the subjects must be now. obv it never came out, and now my window to catch up via torrent has been extended from six years to "indefinite."

I don't remember a huge amount of focus on Brexit, though it is mentioned.

I actually thought there was a pretty pronounced emphasis on Brexit, certainly contemporary politics. The installment kind of sets one person up to be a leaver but then reveals them as a remainer. They may even have some bad things to say about Trump, specifically. For sure the one living in America has stuff to say about Trump. Then another one they set up as a Tory prig they reveal to be a generous philanthropist who works for immigrant rights. Anyway, this installment I found particularly moving, as everyone from director to subjects are getting older and/or ill. A couple of subjects are angry and/or confrontational with Apted, iirc. Anyway, lots of turns and surprises, as usual.

Hardly anyone in the UK has ever had anything good to say about Trump - Leavers, Tories, you name it. Republican presidents tend to not to be too popular in the UK.

Well, yeah. I just mean the installment definitely and frequently addresses current politics, and iirc the guy invokes Trump specifically in the context of Brexit and why he voted remain. But maybe I am confusing/conflating him with the guy living in the US who is explicitly asked about Trump.