Michael Apted's inspired Up Series of documentaries began with a group of seven-year-old British children more than half a century ago. The film crew checked in with the same individuals every seven years as they grew up. The latest installment, with participants now 56 years-old, aired in the UK last week. I've seen every one, and recommend them highly. A documentary series designed to chart the injustices of Britain's class system ended up being sidetracked by the sheer fascination of real people's lives. This is, in fact, the actual reality television – over a lifetime.
Jonathan Bell considers the series' place in our sharing culture today:
The subjects are guinea pigs for an experiment we’re all now conducting on ourselves, whereby our past selves remain constantly at our fingertips, informing our every move and shaping the way that we live our lives. They were the Neil Armstrongs of the self-regarding society, trusted with insight and self-knowledge unprecedented in the history of everyday life. … The internet is awash with long-term projects, a photo a day, a painting a day, now and then, then and now, rose-tinted nostalgia, wayback machines. The web is voracious in its desire to chronicle the world disappearing behind us. Perhaps the films mark the start of our collective quest to elevate the quotidian, to bring meaning to where there was once nothing.
From Caroline Frost's review, the lessons reality teaches:
that, in the final tally, love is more important than money, that building foundations for your children is one of the most important purposes anyone can find for themselves, as Paul puts it, "teaching other people to care", and that anyone who, by the age of 56, has health and a tiny bit of wealth is basically doing all right.
More on the project here. Ebert talks with Apted about the project here. David Zweig explains why 56 Up, "insanely, anachronistically," is being aired only in the UK. Yep: insane.
Its humanity transcends culture, nation and class.
The Dish 