Apted's '49 Up' finds human truths through film 'Straight Up' -- Apted's '49 Up' finds human truths through film

IN 1964, the British TV series "World in Action" hosted an episodetitled "Seven Up!" In it, director Paul Almond interviewed several 7-year-old children from different classes and backgrounds about whatthey would like to do with their lives.

The theory was, by age 7, children had already formed thepersonalities and thought patterns that would carry them throughoutthe rest of their lives. Seven years later, an assistant on thatprogram named Michael Apted tracked down the children and interviewedthem again for a show called "7 Plus Seven" (1970).

Every seven years since, he has done the same. In 1985, theproject became long and varied enough for an American theatricalrelease, titled "28 Up," which earned it new acclaim.

The years have marched on; it's now time for "49 Up." Whether ornot Almond's original idea has panned out is up for debate, but theseries has raised many other fascinating issues.

Apted includes footage from previous entries, so we see how theinterviewees have changed. (Unfortunately, the new footage is shot onrather splotchy digital video.)

Over the series, many of the subjects have moved, changed jobs,married, divorced and had children. But in the seven years since "42Up" (released here in 2000), the tidal wave of change has slowed.Most couples that were married in the last film are still married,though many now enjoy grandchildren, too.

Many of the subjects even have begun to look into retirementoptions, one of the most fascinating factors of this series. TheseBritish and Irish-born folks are aging more gracefully than theirAmerican counterparts. Picture fortysomethings currently working infilms (Johnny Depp, Diane Lane, Brad Pitt, etc.) and they retain ayouthful, prime-of-life feel. You'd hardly catch any of them playingwith grandchildren and retiring to Spain.

Additionally, Apted's subjects have become savvier about theeffect of the film on their lives. Some admit they feel uncomfortablewatching the films and rebuke Apted for his interviewing techniques.One subject, John (a barrister), compares the series to a bad realityTV show, but confesses that his minor fame has helped him in hisbusiness affairs.

Apted has also achieved fame outside the project, most notably forhis Oscar contenders "Coal Miner's Daughter" (1980), "Gorillas in theMist" (1988) and "Nell" (1994), and his contribution to the JamesBond series, "The World Is Not Enough" (1999). So when he comes backto his interviewees every seven years, he is not without his ownbargaining chip.

Yet the "Up" participants still lead relatively normal lives, somesuccessful, some less so. Scientist Nick was forced to give up alifetime of studies when it became apparent that his energy storagesystem didn't work. His participation in the movie series did notalter this event one jot.

So what makes "49 Up" different from terrible reality TV, or forthat matter, from Dana Carvey's "Grapefruit Factor"? (Carvey onceposited this scenario: If you feature a grapefruit every day ontelevision for a week, then put it on display at the local mall,people will point and say, "That's the grapefruit from TV!")

For one thing, the "Up" series has integrity. American reality TVis almost always based on some kind of competition, or less often, onpure spectacle. None of the "Up" subjects have been kicked off theisland, nor have they eaten scorpions or used their heads for bowlingballs. It also has little to do with the fact that they're "famous"simply because they're on a screen. They're no more or less memorablethan any other figure in any other documentary.

No, the most fascinating thing in "49 Up" is to watch the agingprocess, including the way people think. Even at 7, each participantbelieves he or she knows the answer to each question, and thisattitude follows throughout. But very rarely do their certaintiesactually lead back to reality.

Every seven years the subjects have adapted to everything that'shappened to them, no matter how terrible. Even in the new film, ifsomeone has anything pessimistic to say, it will most likely beforgotten or proven wrong seven years from now, in "56 Up" (2011).

The movies are a real testament to how fluid and undefinedeverybody's lives really are, no matter how much control we believewe have or how much planning we do. Ultimately, the mission statementof "49 Up" shouldn't be "Child is father to the man," but rather JohnLennon's lyric: "Life is what happens while you're busy making otherplans."

Which brings us to the movie's most fascinating and unpredictablecharacter, Neil. In various entries, Neil has been homeless, on theverge of insanity and, then, suddenly, working as a small-timepolitician. Without giving anything away, Neil has once againperformed a 180-degree turn, and provides some of the film's mostlasting wisdom.

Through the story of a butterfly, he shows that he alone seems tohave grasped the secret behind the "Up" films, and indeed, perhapsthe secret of life.

Apted's '49 Up' finds human truths through film 'Straight Up' -- Apted's '49 Up' finds human truths through film

IN 1964, the British TV series "World in Action" hosted an episodetitled "Seven Up!" In it, director Paul Almond interviewed several 7-year-old children from different classes and backgrounds about whatthey would like to do with their lives.

The theory was, by age 7, children had already formed thepersonalities and thought patterns that would carry them throughoutthe rest of their lives. Seven years later, an assistant on thatprogram named Michael Apted tracked down the children and interviewedthem again for a show called "7 Plus Seven" (1970).

Every seven years since, he has done the same. In 1985, theproject became long and varied enough for an American theatricalrelease, titled "28 Up," which earned it new acclaim.

The years have marched on; it's now time for "49 Up." Whether ornot Almond's original idea has panned out is up for debate, but theseries has raised many other fascinating issues.

Apted includes footage from previous entries, so we see how theinterviewees have changed. (Unfortunately, the new footage is shot onrather splotchy digital video.)

Over the series, many of the subjects have moved, changed jobs,married, divorced and had children. But in the seven years since "42Up" (released here in 2000), the tidal wave of change has slowed.Most couples that were married in the last film are still married,though many now enjoy grandchildren, too.

Many of the subjects even have begun to look into retirementoptions, one of the most fascinating factors of this series. TheseBritish and Irish-born folks are aging more gracefully than theirAmerican counterparts. Picture fortysomethings currently working infilms (Johnny Depp, Diane Lane, Brad Pitt, etc.) and they retain ayouthful, prime-of-life feel. You'd hardly catch any of them playingwith grandchildren and retiring to Spain.

Additionally, Apted's subjects have become savvier about theeffect of the film on their lives. Some admit they feel uncomfortablewatching the films and rebuke Apted for his interviewing techniques.One subject, John (a barrister), compares the series to a bad realityTV show, but confesses that his minor fame has helped him in hisbusiness affairs.

Apted has also achieved fame outside the project, most notably forhis Oscar contenders "Coal Miner's Daughter" (1980), "Gorillas in theMist" (1988) and "Nell" (1994), and his contribution to the JamesBond series, "The World Is Not Enough" (1999). So when he comes backto his interviewees every seven years, he is not without his ownbargaining chip.

Yet the "Up" participants still lead relatively normal lives, somesuccessful, some less so. Scientist Nick was forced to give up alifetime of studies when it became apparent that his energy storagesystem didn't work. His participation in the movie series did notalter this event one jot.

So what makes "49 Up" different from terrible reality TV, or forthat matter, from Dana Carvey's "Grapefruit Factor"? (Carvey onceposited this scenario: If you feature a grapefruit every day ontelevision for a week, then put it on display at the local mall,people will point and say, "That's the grapefruit from TV!")

For one thing, the "Up" series has integrity. American reality TVis almost always based on some kind of competition, or less often, onpure spectacle. None of the "Up" subjects have been kicked off theisland, nor have they eaten scorpions or used their heads for bowlingballs. It also has little to do with the fact that they're "famous"simply because they're on a screen. They're no more or less memorablethan any other figure in any other documentary.

No, the most fascinating thing in "49 Up" is to watch the agingprocess, including the way people think. Even at 7, each participantbelieves he or she knows the answer to each question, and thisattitude follows throughout. But very rarely do their certaintiesactually lead back to reality.

Every seven years the subjects have adapted to everything that'shappened to them, no matter how terrible. Even in the new film, ifsomeone has anything pessimistic to say, it will most likely beforgotten or proven wrong seven years from now, in "56 Up" (2011).

The movies are a real testament to how fluid and undefinedeverybody's lives really are, no matter how much control we believewe have or how much planning we do. Ultimately, the mission statementof "49 Up" shouldn't be "Child is father to the man," but rather JohnLennon's lyric: "Life is what happens while you're busy making otherplans."

Which brings us to the movie's most fascinating and unpredictablecharacter, Neil. In various entries, Neil has been homeless, on theverge of insanity and, then, suddenly, working as a small-timepolitician. Without giving anything away, Neil has once againperformed a 180-degree turn, and provides some of the film's mostlasting wisdom.

Through the story of a butterfly, he shows that he alone seems tohave grasped the secret behind the "Up" films, and indeed, perhapsthe secret of life.