Director Michael Apted's evolving film, the longest-running documentary project in history, began as a study of the influence of class on schoolchildren in England. In SEVEN UP (1963), Apted interviewed 14 seven-year-old children from vastly different backgrounds. He visited the same group of children every seven years, charting the changes in their lives. In 42 UP, the sixth film in the series, the subjects have grown up, entered the middle of their lives, and experienced dramatic reversals of fortune. Although three of the participants have removed themselves from the spotlight, the remaining voices paint an enlightening, honest picture of love, life, death, success, and failure. Going beyond the notion of merely recording history, the documentary is unusual in the effect that it has had on the participants' lives. In some cases, friendships have formed between the subjects; in most other cases, the documentary has forced them to be more reflective and aggressive as they anticipate the seven-year ritual. A simple but powerful portrait of 14 lives, the SEVEN UP series is Apted's most groundbreaking work; the documentary has already inspired similar projects in many other countries.

DVD Fetaures:

Region 1
Keep Case
Widescreen
Audio:
Stereo - English
Additional Release Material:
Introduction - 1. Michael Apted - Director
Interactive Features:
Scene Access
Interactive Menus
Text/Photo Galleries:
Birector Biography

Michael Apted: British Director/Producer

Michael Apted: British Director/Producer

Kim Horton: Editor

"...[The] sixth entry in the celebrated epic documentary project....A startling home-movie time capsule..."
"...An obvious labor of love for Mr. Apted....Some of the developments here are touchingly positive..."
"...This fascinating ongoing sociological document and human drama by its very nature gets better with each progressive installment..."
"...How refreshing to see a cinematic sustainer that will be continued -- and continue to get more interesting..."
"...Uniquely revealing and compelling....The big news is how encouraging 42 UP is. Remarkably, all 14 are leading productive lives..."
"...This series should be sealed in a time capsule....[It] is a noble use of the medium..."