Review: 42 Up

The family and I treated ourselves to an early Christmas present this year by watching Michael Apted's 1999 documentary 42 Up on Christmas Eve. This is the 6th installment in the 42-year sojourn (so far) following the lives of approximately a dozen English citizens that began in 1964 with Seven Up! I provided a review of the previous update, 35 Up, just a couple of months ago, but seven whole years have incredibly passed for the participants already!

As Tony, Jackie, Neil, Bruce and the rest enter their 40s, the focus for many of them has naturally begun to shift toward their more intermediary role in life: being both parents of teenage or even full-grown children while dealing with the mortality of their own mothers and fathers. Several of them are still grieving over losses from years earlier, with one of them - Suzy - having ironically and sadly gotten involved with bereavement counseling just months prior to watching her mother die of cancer. Tony still wells up at the thought of his dearly departed "old mum" despite her being nearly a decade gone by this point.

The now middle-aged subjects of the documentary series are notably more reflective of the part that the film-making experience has played in their lives than they'd ever been before, even before the question is posed to them explicitly in the final moments. Several of them commented on the dread that they feel about the "every 7 years" knock on the door, and a few have even opted out of participating as they've gotten older. One can't help but wonder just how much the observer has affected the observed in the cases of these individuals, and generally not for the better. Interestingly, more than one of the grown up kids refers to the director by name this time out, revealing more comfort and warmth between subject and film-maker than has ever come across in the past. Presumably that's also a reflection of the growing maturity that comes with age, as I'm sure for years the director was simply "Mr Apted" to them.

There were fewer surprises this time around, although Bruce - previously presumed to be a confirmed bachelor by at least some of us - has finally married and found happiness with a female colleague of his, and Jackie has expanded her single-mother duties from Charlie (shown as a baby in 35 Up) to include another two sons. However, there's one moment that's absolutely delightful in its shock value. In the last several installments, we'd seen troubled loner Neil tottering on the edge of madness. He'd been squatting where he could, living off "the dole" and ruffling feathers wherever he went. It seemed better than even money, while watching 35 Up, that seven years later we'd discover Neil dead, in prison or perhaps institutionalized. Instead, we find out that he's turned his life around somewhat, and found a calling in local politics (you don't have to be crazy, I guess, but it helps!) As shocking as that turn of events is, we're treated to an even greater twist as the narration explains how Neil got there. It's revealed that, between the filming of 35 Up and this movie, kind-hearted Bruce had taken Neil into his home and provided him with at least a brief burst of stability, when the other man returned to London a few years earlier. I couldn't help but yell out "crossover!" as this moment played out before us, what with Bruce returning into the story once again in the role of hero. He positions it more as 'humble benefactor,' downplaying his own significance in the life of another. His new wife had earlier referred to him as "the nicest person" she'd ever met, and here was proof of that statement.

A small departure occurs in the final moments of 42 Up, as Apted asks many of the participants a couple common questions. First: is the English class system still in effect, as the 20th century closes out? The answers vary from person to person, with some being in the frustrated affirmative while others - the more privileged of the group - notably in denial of any such thing. The second question is about the effect that being in the series has had on the subjects, which I've touched on above.

The other unique aspect of this part of the series is being enjoyed this evening (the next night): the DVD contains a commentary track by director Apted! I've only watched two or three commentary tracks in my DVD experience so far, but this was a no-brainer. When the material is as fascinating and engrossing as the Up Series, who in their right mind wouldn't want to hear what the creative force behind it has to say about it? On it, we learn how the original Granada TV episode came about - and the Canadian connection on it! - how it had never been intended as a recurring series, and how difficult it's proven to be every 7 years to get many of the subjects on-board. Apted very honestly admits to screwing up the editing of the footage, in 28 Up, of Nick's wife Jackie, and how that mistake has hurt the series as a result. She's not only refused to be photographed ever since 28 Up but has also forbidden shots of their son. The director's consistently open and honest about his successes and failures throughout the commentary, making for an amazing insight into the process.

If you're a fan of the series at all, you'll be sucked into the commentary track every bit as fully and willingly as you've been with each of the individual films. This is another in a great series of films!

Rating: ****