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Reel World: 49 Up
Life's lessons learned in 49 Up
By Clarke Reader
creader3@mscd.edu

Photo courtesy of First Run Features 49 Up Not rated 137 minutes Opens Oct. 6

49 Up plays like a mix between a long-term sociology experiment and a drawn-out episode of The Real World. There’s nothing flashy or eye-popping here: It’s just real people experiencing the ups and downs of life.

Unfortunately, the documentary drags on too long to be compelling, and its long-winded approach to cinéma vérité spoils its potential as an engaging film.

The seventh installment in director Michael Apted’s 7 Up! BBC series, 49 Up focuses on 12 of his original 14 subjects. Apted started following 14 British children in 1964’s 7 Up!, returning every seven years to take a look at their progress.

There’s not much to explain as far as plot goes. All the original children are now 49 years old, and most have children of their own.

They all talk about their various experiences, whether it’s growing up without knowing a father, dealing with marital problems or finding a place to live.

They all have unique experiences and share the common challenge of finding happiness. Showing how each person reacts to his or her unique obstacles in life is what makes the film interesting.

Originally conceived as a glimpse into what the future of England would look like, the films have become more universal, highlighting issues that go beyond nationality.

The filmmaking is pretty straightforward. There’s archival footage from past films coupled with one-on-one interviews from 2005.

The problem is that the stories quickly start to sound the same.

All the subjects say they just want to be happy and healthy in life with their families, that they love their grandkids, and that things are pretty good where they are.

For the most part, each interviewee seems to be settled in his or her separate habits, which certainly doesn’t make for the most engaging viewing.

What’s more, many cite their distaste for doing these documentaries, claiming it drags up horrible feelings they’ve been trying to escape. They say Apted’s films open up chapters in their lives that they’d rather leave closed. That they still appear every seven years despite their misgivings is a testament to their commitment to the project and the lessons they hope it teaches viewers.

As a sociological study, 49 Up is informative and educational. For those who are more interested in action, in getting out there and living their own lives, it might do to skip this one.