UK
Documentary
TV series
1998

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In 1962, director Michael Apted interviewed several 7-year-old children about who they were, and what they expected to do with their lives. These kids came from a huge spectrum of British society; children from broken homes, upper class, middle class and orphanages. Every seven years, he went back to interview the same children, to see where they were in their lives, and how things had changed.

42 Up is the most recent production, where he interviews the same group, now all 42. I found it occasionally slow, but I enjoyed seeing how the dreams and perspectives and goals and people had -- and had not -- changed. There were successes and failures, and one person is even just starting his life after two dozen years of self-exile.

It was only later that a larger picture came into focus for me. That of the class perpetuating itself. For the most part, people stayed in the class that they were born. As Mr. Apted closed the piece with the summary interviews, he focused on this question with all the candidates. Did class make a difference for them? Did they perceive a difference in the opportunities they did or didn't have? Most thought no, a couple thought yes.

Also interesting, most of the interviewees have grown tired of the documentary coming back into their lives every seven years. Personally, I don't blame them. I value my privacy too much to have the lens of the world looking at my strengths and shortcomings. I do wonder if, as those 7-year-old children -- they had a choice to participate or not?

If nothing else, 42 Up will spark discussion about life, hopes, dreams and how things change -- or don't -- over the relatively short span of seven years.