56 Up
3.5 out of 5 Stars
Directors • Michael Apted and Paul Almond
Rated • Not Rated
Recommended to • Sociologists and those who have followed the landmark documentary series.

In 1964 filmmaker Paul Almond interviewed 14 seven-year-old British children from various backgrounds in order to examine the role that social class played in their development. Every seven years the director (Michael Apted took over the project following the first film) would interview the individuals and track their progress.

For “56 Up” 13 of the original children were interviewed (documentary filmmaker Charles Furneaux has refused to participate since “21 Up”) and while the film clocks in at just over two hours it leaves very little time to really examine each person’s life. We’re given a concise tour of the past 49 years, which is quite interesting, but, as the participants themselves point out, a bit incomplete.

-Ryan Michael Painter