Review of 35 Up (1991) by Cam B — 29 May 2009

"Give me the child until he is seven and I will give you the man.".

"35 Up" is the fifth installment in director Michael Apted's documentary project which he's dubbed "The Up Series". The first installment, "Seven Up!", was released on British television in 1964, and each additional film has been significantly longer and more expansive. The project is simple - a group of seven-year-old children of different backgrounds were chosen to participate in a project to examine Britain's future and it's class boundaries. Every seven years thereafter, Michael Apted has returned to the same subjects and caught up with their lives. Some subjects have opted out, and in "35 Up", the most infamous subject of the series makes his return. I was upset when I realized who would be left out of this installment, but it's hard to be angry with them. Instead, however, we can only be thankful of those who continue to share their deepest achievements, longings, and regrets with us.

Since "21 Up", Neil has become the series' favorite subject. At seven he was bubbly and had a big smiling grin. At fourteen he was unusually contemplative for someone his age and somewhat of a visionary. Since then, however, he's become homeless. Apted finds him drifting and, since "28 Up", Neil looks even more lonely, paranoid, and depressed. He comments on the absurd quantity of letters he's received from fans of the series. His story has captivated the minds of millions of movie-goers worldwide, and for each of them it's excruciating to wonder how he's doing inbetween the seven year installments.

Although "35 Up" is enjoyable, I didn't find it to be as fascinating as the previous installments. This is simply due to the nature of life. Most of the subjects have settled down, and we no longer have drastic changes in character and personality. As a young man of 21, i'm relieved to see even the biggest cynics make order of their lives - but the series just doesn't have the same unpredictability factor it had in "21 Up" and "28 Up". That being said, however, it's still nicely put together and a wonderful meditation on the mysteries of life.

The most rewarding thing about "The Up Series" is your reflections while watching an installment. One can't help but to think of their own lives while watching these subjects' deal with many of the things we will go through or have already. How much have we changed since seven? Where will we be in seven years? Where were we seven years ago? Even if you're not entirely captivated by what unfolds on the screen, the personal journey it takes you through is perhaps unparalleled in modern filmmaking. It's not a wonderful stand alone picture, but it's a solid addition to a beautiful series.