56 Up (2012)

	Also Known As: -
	Year of first release: 2012
	Director: Michael Apted
	Actors: -
	Country: GB
	Genre: Documentary
	Conditions of visioning: 26.06.2015, DVD, 11" computer screen
Synopsis: "In 1964, Granada Television brought together a group of seven year olds, from all over the country and from all walks of life. They talked about their dreams, their ambitions and their fears for the future … For nearly half a century, in a unique ground-breaking series of films, we have followed their lives every seven years. They are now 56".
Review: The Synopsis above is the statement with which the Documentary opens, and it constitutes obviously its major interest. The effect of the passing of time on a human life is a topic that all of us are concerned with, and with its long-lasting and unprecedented concept, this Documentary gives us a new perspective on the question, a bit like people creating time-lapse movies from photos of their face ageing over the years. Every seven years a set of questions is asked to the participants revolving around two main topic: relationships and work, but sometimes diverting into politics, religion, music, or the impact of the fame brought by the program on the participants' life. Indeed on top of a peak of fame every seven years, the British Tabloids were exposing their life, successes and (more often) failures almost continuously. The editing plays a huge role in this Documentary, so much that it has been criticized for that, including by the participants themselves. How can you summarize one's life in 5-10 minutes?!? Keeping that in mind, I liked the way it was done, one child at a time and starting with a 20-second overview of key footage recorded since he was seven. The Documentary was broadcasted in three parts (a division that is also present on the DVD), and I liked a lot the first one but less the two next, finding them a bit repetitive. It is probably advisable to watch the 2h30 programme in three instances. The original goals of the programme may not be fully met, like the follow-up of children that would be "the shop steward and the executive of the year 2000" (the interest is now lost), or the chances of success in life based on your background and social class at birth (The number of 7 years comes from the Jesuit motto "Give me a child until he is seven and I will give you the man"), but it is nonetheless extremely interesting.
Rating: 8 /10