42 Up (1998)

Director Michael Apted revisits the same group of British-born adults after a 7 year wait. The subjects are interviewed as to the changes that have occurred in their lives during the last seven years.

Director:

Michael Apted

Stars:

Bruce Balden, Jacqueline Bassett, Symon Basterfield

1 win & 9 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Bruce Balden	...	Himself (as Bruce)
Jacqueline Bassett	...	Herself (as Jackie)
Symon Basterfield	...	Himself (as Symon)
Andrew Brackfield	...	Himself (as Andrew)
John Brisby	...	Himself (archive footage) (as John)
Suzanne Dewey	...	Herself (as Suzy)
Charles Furneaux	...	Himself (archive footage) (as Charles)
Nicholas Hitchon	...	Himself (as Nick)
Neil Hughes	...	Himself (as Neil)
Lynn Johnson	...	Herself (as Lynn)
Paul Kligerman	...	Himself (as Paul)
Susan Sullivan	...	Herself (as Sue)
Tony Walker	...	Himself (as Tony)

Storyline

In 1964, a film crew interviewed seven-year-old English kids: five or six from privilege, a Yorkshire farm lad, East-End girls, and boys from a children's home. Every seven years, Michael Apted re-interviews those willing (two declined this time). At 42, careers are stuck or flourishing; marriages are strong, shaky, or over (and Bruce recently married for the first time). They're dealing with parents' dying, and children coming-of-age. One is a single mom with young sons. One is remarried, but how are the five children from his first marriage? Lyn and Jackie face health problems with down-to-earth lucidity. Neil, on the margin at 28 and 35, has a glorious story of friendship at 42.

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Plot Keywords:

twin towers | london england | lifespan | lifespan development | politics | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Latin

Release Date:

21 July 1998 (UK)

Also Known As:

42: Forty Two Up

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$14,576, 19 November 1999

Gross USA:

$259,068, 23 April 2000

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Granada Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

139 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Brisby - who used the previous film 35 Up (1991) to tout business for his Bulgarian charity work - declined to appear in this instalment.

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Quotes

Neil Hughes: Well, I'm not married. I value all experience. I feel that part of my life hasn't happened. I'm not homosexual therefore I do hanker after a stable relationship with a woman. I've never been able to achieve that and I think I'm somehow deficient in... my ability to react to the needs of others through not having had that relationship.

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Connections

Features 28 Up (1984)

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Soundtracks

Doina lui Petru Unc
Written by Gheorghe Zamfir
Performed by Gheorghe Zamfir

User Reviews

Probably the most fascinating film ever made.

Brit Michael Apted began this film with "Seven Up!", in 1964, in black and white, followed in color every seven years by "7 Plus Seven(1970)", "21(1977)", "28 Up(1985)", "35 UP(1991)", and now in 1998, "42 Up." It follows several "randomly" selected boys and girls into manhood and womanhood. I found Neil most fascinating, he was a bright 7-year-old who wanted to be a "carriage driver", dropped out of college, worked at odd jobs, at 28 was homeless in Scotland, at 35 homeless in the Shetland Islands, obviously somewhat mentally unstable. Living off the British government payments, with no job. By age 42 he is in London, representing Hackney as the elected Liberal Democrat representative. He actually has a purpose now, does good for those he represents, still has no job. But he looks forward to each day now, something he had difficulty doing in past years.

The beauty of this film is its unique look at us, humanity, and how we grow up, dealing with "life." This was truly an inspired project Apted undertook, beginning about 40 years ago. I would not have understood this as a casual viewer, but the every seven year "engagement" is stressful for the participants, as if they don't want to disappoint the viewing audience. Several actually opted out and were only discussed, because they no longer wanted the pressure of participating.

I hope I am around to see "49 Up"!! The year 2005 is right around the corner (update December 2004).