Apt Apted

                 I hope this means we get the day off school.






In 1964, Seven Up!,  which perhaps would be the start of one of the most staggeringly impressive documentary series in the whole of time. The cinema world was graced with this now seven part series, with Canadian factotum Paul Almond initially at the helm. The Granada produced powerhouse,
was inspired by a pericope of Ignatious Loyola's that was adopted as a slogan for the Jesuits; " Give me a child when he is seven, and I will give you the man."




In this documentary, we are introduced to fourteen children, all
disparate in their socio-economic backgrounds and from various
regions of the UK. In the first release, these subjects
were all at the tender age of seven, precociously frank and surprisingly
candid for their age as their little lives would be documented in all their glory, from their minutiae to their magnificence. 

                           Apted, apt as ever.










In the teachings of anthroposophy, a philosophy founded in 1912 by Rudolph Steiner, it is believed that changes of life occur in seven year increments, there are significant changes in physiognomy. That there are visible changes in the human body, that manifest in these intervals.




Steiner's theory could very well be applied in this series.


One of the things that I found most captivating, the very first time I was privy to this unusual series, is how easily familiar these children become, such in a way, as a result
of the gentle approach of lens here, a subtly cognitive interview that never probes, but rather examines in a humanistic light. That these subjects of Seven Up! would become like surrogate children for the moment, a symbiotic experience of sorts. I started to care for them as if they were familial, and I would find myself feeling honor-bound to catch up with every last one of them, much in the way an aunt would for her nephews and nieces, as these youngsters, all in their own respective way, would leave me feeling a spiritually relative.




Seven Up! was originally intended as a one-time production, with no specific plans of reprising. However, Royal appointed Michael Apted, in 1971, a researcher during the series maiden voyage, would step in and assume directorial duties - hence the show went on. These  dozen plus subjects would be revisited for this poignant production in the sequel Fourteen Up!


And it didn't end there , these episodic entries are still being produced, and now the subjects will all have 56 candles as we are now on the cusp of 2012. 


Although Seven Up! was initially well received and considered revered , and important a documentary series, sadly, it would receive very little acknowledgement in its subsequent installments.

It is gospel that with every entry of this series, Mr. Apted, gives his best college try in summoning all of the original subjects to participate. There are however, three subjects of Seven Up's! original cast, that have ceased to appear.




 This series would prove deeply influential and seminal ,
 inspiring  auteurs the world over, as it did  with Denmark's  Arang O and the German production of Die Kinder Von Golzow. 


As you watch these children, who have generously permitted their childhoods to be documented and  reviewed by the eyes of the public, as they make their transition into adulthood before your very eyes in their chronology, you too may find you have evolved with them. The Filmographer recommends this series absolutely not be missed, if you can make an appointment to view this, it would behoove you.