Counting by 7s: The Amazing Up Series by Michael Apted

49 Up, from 2005, is the next-to-most-recent entry into Michael Apted's amazing multiyear documentary social examination, the so-called "up" series, visiting about a dozen English men and women at 7-year intervals since they were 7 years old back in, I think 1966? - in this entry they're 49. At this point, only one has dropped from the project, quite amazingly. By this installment, the  changes in the peoples' lives are less dramatic and surprising - in part because, obviously, the 7-year intervals become "shorter" in relation to the entire life span (7 to 14 is a huge change whereas 42 to 49 is much less so). On the other hand, as the sometimes surprising evolution of the subjects settles and as they resolve themselves into mature adult life, it's easier to make general observations about what the series shows us. First of all, the initial premise proves to be almost entirely accurate: show me the child at 7 and I will show you the man (or woman). Whether by selective editing or not, we can definitely see how the early personalities remain intact all through life. More interestingly, we see that there is essentially no movement of social class - or to the slight extent that there is, it's entirely dependent on the decision as to whether to go to "university." The working-class kids from the East End stay in the working class, by and large; the ones in the boarding schools move on to professional success. That said, with the notable exception of Neil, suffering from severe mental problems and the heart and soul of the series, the subjects have all found prosperity and happiness far beyond the hardships and brutality of their childhood: I think we're all struck by very nice home environments of those who grew up in an orphanage or the tough East End, a mark of the improvement of life in England since the postwar years; as to the well-to-do, they are still prosperous but they are much more family-oriented than their parents were, and they are not sending their kids to those horrible, cruel boarding schools - and are generally happy with whatever decisions their children make about their lives. Several had divorced in or before 42 up and those who did are all remarried, apparently very happily - although some of their children seem to be making the same mistakes regarding early marriage or motherhood. Several of the spouses, btw, want nothing to do with this project and remain in the background. It's interesting to see how the young man who grew up in the orphanage and seemed to have learning disabilities has built a nice life for himself and his family in Australia: it's impossible to imagine him attaining the same success or happiness in class-bound England. I won't say much about Neil, as many will watch this film mainly to catch up on his life (Apted shrewdly leaves Neil to the last segment), but will only say that his odyssey continues - though, again, without the seismic shifts in life that we saw in him and others in some of the earlier installments. I'll watch 56 up (if nothing else, series has taught us to count by 7s), though not right away: it's good to leave at least a few years between your own viewing of these segments.