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49 Up
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Product Description
Product Description
This documentary is the 7th film in the landmark series that began 42 years ago when UK-based Garnada TV interviewd a diverse group of 7-year-old children from all over England, asking them about their lives and their dreams for the future.
Review
Cinema's longest-running and most fascinating experiment. --The New York Times
Product details
- Aspect Ratio : 1.66:1
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
- MPAA rating : Unrated (Not Rated)
- Product Dimensions : 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 4 ounces
- Item model number : 2251539
- Director : Michael Apted
- Media Format : Multiple Formats, Color, NTSC, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Black & White
- Run time : 2 hours and 14 minutes
- Release date : November 14, 2006
- Actors : Bruce Balden, Jacqueline Bassett, Symon Basterfield, Andrew Brackfield, John Brisby
- Studio : First Run Features
- ASIN : B000HRMATA
- Number of discs : 1
- Best Sellers Rank: #176,365 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
- #6,316 in Documentary (Movies & TV)
- #7,799 in Special Interests (Movies & TV)
- #12,042 in Kids & Family DVDs
- Customer Reviews:
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers praise this documentary series as an extraordinary set of films, with one noting it's a fascinating study. Moreover, the series receives positive feedback for its quality, with customers describing it as well-done and excellent. Additionally, customers find the content uplifting and moving, with one customer noting it's more hopeful than previous installments.
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Customers praise the documentary series, particularly the Apted series, describing it as an extraordinary and fascinating study.
"...One thing that impresses me is that all of the subjects are good people -- not perfect, not immune from taking a wrong turn once in a while, but..." Read more
"...The whole series is a fascinating study and the question John puts - "does it really prove anything" is a worthwhile question but it doesn't make..." Read more
"The 'Up Series' represents one of the most fascinating and unusual uses of film in cinema history - a documentary life-long chronicle of the lives..." Read more
"...It is about life, and it shows how people evolve over time. I identified with one of the people being interviewed, as well as my sister...." Read more
Customers praise the documentary's quality, describing it as well-done and excellent, with one customer calling it a masterpiece of film work.
"...in this extraordinary series of documentaries, and is as well-done as every one of them -- which is to say, it is truly excellent...." Read more
"This is the third movie in the UP series that I've seen. It's wonderful, just like the others...." Read more
"give me a boy at 7 and i will show you the man. Superb series which follows the lives of children from all backgrounds...." Read more
"...A masterpiece of film work everyone should sit down and watch with their family members. I thought about this film for days after seeing it...." Read more
Customers find the documentary uplifting and moving, with one customer noting it is more hopeful than previous installments, while another mentions the faces appear kinder and wiser.
"...But I find their faces kinder and wiser and more beautiful, even more so when those who are married reaffirm their love for one another and talk..." Read more
"...it's really an astounding, moving, frightening and uplifting document...." Read more
"...It is about life, and it shows how people evolve over time. I identified with one of the people being interviewed, as well as my sister...." Read more
"...it is thought-provoking and calls into questions the ethics and purpose of the project,..." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2015Wasn't what I expected.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2006Perhaps I am especially sentimental about this series because the participants are my age, but when "49 Up" came to a close with scenes from the original film, "Seven Up," I found myself in tears.
It has been suggested that the series was originally intended to illustrate that children born into various social classes were destined to follow a specific course in life. But time has revealed something very different: that money, class, and education are superficial differences, and that all of us are bound by our common human experience. Every one of the participants has dealt with some sort of adversity -- the death of parents, divorce, illness, depression, loss of a job -- but has persevered with the love and support of family and friends. We learn about their joys, too -- the arrival of grandchildren, a new love, a new career.
Another reviewer commented that time has not been kind to most of the participants from a physical standpoint. No doubt a young person wrote that! Yes, many folks our age (including me) have put on some extra pounds, lost hair or gone grayer, or developed a few wrinkles. But I find their faces kinder and wiser and more beautiful, even more so when those who are married reaffirm their love for one another and talk about how their spouses have helped them through the hard times.
One thing that impresses me is that all of the subjects are good people -- not perfect, not immune from taking a wrong turn once in a while, but trying hard to do the right thing in life. I am so proud of all of them and can hardly wait seven years to find out how they have fared since I saw them last.
There are challenges ahead for Michael Apted and his crew. Clearly it is becoming more difficult for some of the participants to find their lives under scrutiny every seven years, for a couple of them suggested that "49 Up" will be their last film. At the same time, the sheer volume of footage will make it increasingly difficult to bring viewers up to date on each participant every seven years while including flashbacks from the previous films. (Even now, "49 Up" probably will not be as meaningful to those who have not seen the earlier films.)
But the series is historic, of deep and timeless value, and one of the most moving documentaries I have ever seen. I hope it will continue, but if some of the participants find later that they can't continue, nonetheless, in the first seven films they have given us an incomparable gift.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2006I came into this film totally cold as far as the Up Series is concerned. So I had no connection to these people and no context for their situations. This does not end up causing me any problems at all because director Michael Apted comprises this film of about 50% new material and 50% old material from previous films. I certainly don't get to see these people grow up organically as I would have had I watched the films in order. But instead I get a nifty CliffNotes version that fills in all the important blanks. 49 may not be the most exciting age to be as most of these people have settled into their family lives, but thanks to some movie magic I get to see exactly how they got there. In the future I look forward to going back and watching all the other films in the series, but even if you are like me and have never seen any others you can still enjoy this one because I certainly did. It is incredibly interesting and definitely worth checking out. One thing that really struck me was just how similar their lives turned out. At the beginning of "Trainspotting" Ewan McGregor's character says "Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family," and that is exactly what these people did. And that is fine, these people weren't delusional, they just wanted to find happiness and for better or for worse that is how they found it. They almost all turned out to be decent human beings with the exception being one woman who launches into a scorching tirade against Apted and the project in general. She seems upset about editing in his previous films, but it took no CGI here to make her look downright certifiable. Of course the rich kids stayed rich and the poor kids stayed poor, but that is the whole point of the series. You don't just play the hand you're dealt, you are the hand you're dealt.
All of this is far more interesting than it ever should be. These are regular people with regular lives. I do believe that the film is hurt by Apted's line of questioning as it is soft and generic. He could have asked them about timely matters such as world events or politics, those things can tell us as much about a person as their families or careers. Also, he was always pushing them to admit that they are lazy and not ambitious. Maybe he could have asked the business man if he felt as though he spent too much of his life at the office. It is also worth noting that Mother Nature was not kind to these people. The men got off easier than the women, but Nick was the only one who seems to have improved looks wise over time. The film unconsciously asks the question if we are all doomed to become fat and domestic, and then they answer it with a resounding yes. But maybe I'm being too hard on these people. 21 is obviously a more turbulent time than 49 and we can't all be stallions forever. But with age they have picked up a real distaste for this project. A few of them even try to call out the viewers for being voyeuristic, but what person watching this film isn't already aware of that? These people at least have the option to opt out of the project (as 2 have already done), but what about those poor saps on "Cops" who are forced to live out their most humiliating moment on network TV? If I can gulp that down and not feel any guilt then these people don't stand a chance. Maybe if they had posed that question a few decades ago, you know, before the reality TV craze, then maybe people would have listened. But as it is they are now just another exhibit in the freak show that is our culture. ***1/2
Top reviews from other countries
- RobofoxReviewed in the United Kingdom on September 16, 2012
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant!!
I've been an avid watcher of these programmes, since day one.
Really interesting and well portrayed, will be watching for the latest 56, as soon as it's available!
- Andrew AReviewed in Canada on December 11, 2006
5.0 out of 5 stars DVD is uncut; CBC broadcast was severely edited
For those who watched it on CBC, you might consider purchasing this DVD. The complete running time of the documentary is 135 minutes. CBC's version ran 85 minutes without the commercials (over two nights). Roughly 40 minutes - approx 1/3rd of the documentary - was cut by the CBC to make it fit their timeslot. CBC completely removed the stories of Lynn (librarian), Suzy (upper middle class girl who was quite shy, now married with kids) and Nick (farmer's son who moved to USA to work as a university professor) and others were severely edited, including Bruce (teacher) and Paul (moved to Australia).
- Bill D.Reviewed in Canada on June 2, 2016
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Item was as described
- T LeighReviewed in Canada on December 5, 2014
5.0 out of 5 stars Best Documentary
Amazing documentary, and I believe 56 Up is now available.