Seven Up! Series essay

Film description:

Directed by Michael Apted, the "Up Series" is a documentary that follows the lives of fourteen British children, every seven years, as they grow and mature into adulthood and beyond. The first film 7 Up took place in 1964 when the children were just seven years old. The latest film, 49 Up, was released in September 2005. Filming for the next installment of the series, 56 Up, is said to begin in late 2011 or early 2012.

Throughout the first film the children are asked fun questions such as what their dreams are and what they want to be when they grow up. Each consecutive film picks up 7 years later from the previous filming, and the children are often asked the same questions again. As expected with maturity and a strong dose of reality, some of them change their opinions about what they want to be or do when they grow up while others hold firm to their youthful dreams. The children are from many different socio-economic backgrounds which presents the viewer with an interesting insight into how their backgrounds shape their future.

The first film, directed by Paul Almond, was not intended to be a series. However, Michael Apted, a researcher for the first film and one who helped choose the 14 children, took it upon himself to continue the story resulting in the Seven Up Series. It is with this first film that I begin my essay.

My experience:

I began watching the first film with a preconceived notion that old movies were boring and uninteresting. Yet as the movie progressed I became interested in the lives of these children. By the mid point of the movie I was genuinely intrigued and curious how they would develop over the years. After watching the film I had a newfound respect for older movies and for those who create them.

This was a very enjoyable film. I was fascinated as I watched the children grow and mature. With their newfound maturity, many of them changed their opinions on a variety of topics over the years such as political standpoints, issues of prejudice, financial interests, democracy, religion, how they felt about those who were “rich” as opposed to those who weren’t and what they wanted to be when they grew up. I especially enjoyed watching as they improved their conversational skills over the years. In the beginning, as most 7 year olds do, they generally gave short and cute answers to questions.

As the years progressed, their vocabulary and reasoning skills improved and they began holding deeper, more meaningful conversations at much higher intellectual levels than before. I wouldn’t be surprised if many of them grew up to be politicians, presidents, CEO's, actors, mayors, lawyers, judges, governors etc.. They certainly have the capability and potential to become any of these and much more if they apply themselves in the right ways. I am compelled to watch the rest of the series to see what type of people they turn out to be and what professions they chose.

As I watched the children develop I couldn’t help but feel proud of them as a father would be with his son or daughter. I was proud that they were growing and maturing into adults, of how good they were doing academically and proud that they were taking the road to maturity and adulthood seriously, rather than choosing not to evolve and hold firm in their childish ways.

There is nothing wrong with kids being kids and being childish, such is the nature of children. However, at some point as a child matures a decision needs to be made. Does the child keep doing the childish things they do because these things are fun? Or do they start imitating the role models in their lives and begin the process of developing into an adult? It was very evident in their mannerisms, speech, general attitudes and interests that the latter was the predominant choice.

I was very impressed with how well spoken the children were. Be it their British up-bringing, or simply the result of their academic environment, at the very young age of seven they held conversations better than most of the adults I know.

In the first program the producers threw a party for all of the children with the intent to capture their interactions with each other. In the second program, Seven plus 7, I was disappointed that they didn’t do this again. I think it would have made for a more complete film and would have better contrasted the changes in their social interactions.

Conclusion:

All in all I thoroughly enjoyed watching this engaging and fulfilling documentary. It was a truly powerful film in many ways and a pleasure to watch. Hats off to Paul Almond for creating the idea, and to Michael Apted for having the determination and vision to turn Paul’s idea into a very enjoyable documentary series.