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

Of the 14 original interviewees, 11 take part in this installment.

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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

Featured in The 50 Greatest Documentaries (2005)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Excellent series

Most of the posters here have already thoroughly covered the concept and content of this amazing docu series, so I'll avoid generalizations.

First of all, Apted began an American version years ago ["Age Seven in America," (91) and "14 Up in America"(98)], but I have been unable to locate them. He did not direct these versions, but acted as a producer. Ironically, 2005 is the year for "21 Up in America" and "49 Up." I certainly look forward to the latter.

It is quite interesting to see that the styles and "feel" of each original series entry appears about ten years off. In other words, the shows in the 80s feel like the 70s, and the 90s editions feel very 80s-ish. Has anyone else noticed this? Perhaps it is the difference in cultures, or the style of film-making. Regardless, the "Ups" are amazing. I watched all six documentaries within one week. Although I had been familiar with them as early as the 80s, I had never bothered to sample an edition. My loss.

There has been no document of human growth quite as effective as this.