Movie- 35 Up

This amazing documentary series continues, as the children we first met at 7 years of age are in 35 Up (1991) 35 years old.

They are not bright-eyed any more, having started to see some of lifes' disillusionments and difficulties. Some have divorced, many have recently seen the death of parents or have had other troubles. They are in the midst of life with all its harshness, and its sweetness too.

John, one who did not participate in the last film is back. Upper crust to the core, and disliking the lime light that the series throws upon him, and looking bad in it, he is back to highlight a charity he oversees. And he at least seems to have matured a bit.

Tony, the rogue who so wanted to be a jockey at 7, and briefly became one, seemed so happy at 28, but now had marital problems. I have to wonder will he still be married at 42, next time we visit him.

But I have to be happy for Paul. In a boy's home at 7, moved to Australia soon after that, as a young man he still seemed so alone. But he found love, and after being married for 13 years in this film, the relationship still seems solid and happy. His wife says something interesting, about the films helping the marriage, because you can look back and see how happy you were at the beginning, and get that feeling back, it helps her through tougher times.

Simon is absent, but we see Nick, whose wife did not like how she came across and so does not participate, still doing well in America. Jackie, Lynn and Sue have all gone though some trying times, but come out remarkably well. Suzy, who at 21 seemed adrift in the world, seems so content, level-headed and happy. And Bruce...who at age 7 wanted to go to other countries to help people, he thought as a minister, now has done it as a teacher in Sri Lanka.

But most powerful is Neil. Contrasting him with his image at 7, a happy, bright-eyed boy, now a terribly lonely man. Settled a bit on the Shetland Isles, he still has no roots, and still seems very lost. With no job, he is searching for his place, his role, his calling. Afflicted with a bit of a mental disorder, he does not have much hope for himself. At 35 I wonder even more will he live to be in the next film.

This series is quite simply fantastic. That Michael Apted has stuck with it every 7 years...that these subjects have let themselves be scrutinized in this way every 7 years, is a testament to all of them. That the films come off so well, and that it is not reality TV, but realistic portraits of real people, with real problems, loves, lives, that we have been able to follow so for for almost 30 years, is almost beyond belief.

42 Up is next. Will all our friends be there? Will they be settled again, or will their lives be in turmoil, the ebb and flow of all our lives reflected in these few?