Documentary '63 Up' is a bittersweet reunion with people we've gotten to know over the decades

If you have never seen any of director Michael Apted’s “Up” documentaries, “63 Up” is not the place to start. 

For those of us who have watched them — and followed the lives Apted has chronicled  since they were seven years old — seeing “63 Up” is like a reunion with old friends. For a 55-year-old movie critic who saw “35 Up” when he was 27, the series has been a glimpse into one’s own future, a sneak preview of life eight years later.

Apted (“Coal Miner’s Daughter,” “The World Is Not Enough”) was a researcher for Granada TV’s newsmagazine “World In Action,” which in 1964 interviewed seven-year-olds, from rich schools and poor ones, to show viewers who would have their hands on Britain’s future. The documentary was inspired by the quote, attributed to Aristotle: “Give me the child to the age of 7, and I will show you the man.”

Apted went back and interviewed those same kids when they were 14. And when they were 21. And 28. And so on, every seven years, which is where we are now with “63 Up.”

Over the years, fans of the series have watched rich kids become successful rich adults, or chuck it all and go teach in Bangladesh. At the same time, the films have shown working-class kids grow into successful adults, or struggle with poverty and other problems.

As Apted combs through the lives of these people — and there’s plenty of footage from past installments to capture their personalities at different ages — a few common threads have permeated the series, and show up again in “63 Up.”

One is that they all, at one time or another, have gotten fed up with Apted poking his camera into their lives at seven-year intervals. Some of them have said so to his face — and Apted, to his credit, includes those moments. Most, as “63 Up” shows, have grown to appreciate being part of one of the most comprehensive experiments in film history.

Another is that life cares less about class divisions than snooty ‘60s TV producers did. There is some talk of politics, of Brexit and Donald Trump, but not too much. Everyone, regardless of their economic status, are dealing with everyday things, like children and health issues.

Death hangs over “63 Up” more than in past chapters. Many of the subjects have buried their parents. Others — spoiler alert! — are dealing with death in a more immediate way.

For those reasons, “63 Up” feels like it may be the end of the line. There’s also the fact that Apted turns 79 in February, and it’s unclear whether he would direct “70 Up” or if someone would take over the work. However, when I was 27, I arrogantly predicted the series would be over at “35 Up” — and I’d be happy to be wrong again.

——

“63 Up”

★★★1/2

Opened November 27, 2019, in select cities; opens Friday, January 3, 2020, at the Broadway Centre Cinemas (Salt Lake City). Not rated, but probably PG-13 for language and mature themes. Running time: 139 minutes.