Director Michael Apted revisits the same group of British-born adults after a 7 year wait. The subjects are interviewed as to the changes that have occurred in their lives during the last seven years.
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UK
The one chap Neil is making this series a bit uncomfortable to watch now. In 28 Up Neil showed a lot of similarities to a friend of mine, given that he went from a happy go lucky kid to an adult who struggles with mental illness. While it isn't entirely clear whether or not Neil suffers severely from mental illness, it is for my friend, and in 35 Up Neil showed even more similarities to my friend. The way that Neil seems so stuck in a rut, just hits too close to home. I can only hope that it gets better for Neil and for my friend.
At 35, with one notable exception, the kids seem really plugged in to where they are in their lives. And director Michael Apted might have hit his stride as the series' one true villain.
It’s strange to think that these people I’ve been following since they are seven are now older than me. Of course, they are all much older than me - some having tragically passed at this point. But it’s still an odd sensation.
Previous films in the series have had me reflect on my past, or my present. This has me looking forward but also has me shocked by how little or how much life can change. These films show precariousness for some and solidity for others, and we also have the context of why - so often merely existing privilege.
What stands out this time is the way language echoes through these interviews. Especially how the same words are used…
It's a shame that jockey-turned-cabbie Tony didn't stick with acting; his EastEnder accent would have fit in perfectly with Guy Ritchie's reprobate characters.
If 28 Up was the most hopeful and inspiring segment of the Up Series, 35 Up is easily the most bleak. The upbringing the 14 children had at the beginning of the franchise is on full display by the age of 35. The two opposite ends of the pendulum being John and Neil. John who seemingly returned after his short absence from 28 Up only to show off his large success with wealth and family; a drastically different tone from Neil who is still homeless and alone. John had his whole life planned out as a child while Neil's upbringing always struggled financially. Which gives an unsettling feeling while watching 35 Up that no matter what path we choose, our future almost feels pre-planned and inevitable. A frighteningly real portrayal of two men who I had difficulty telling apart when they were seven, to living opposite lifestyles by the age of thirty five.
"When I grow up I want to be an astronaut, but if I can't be an astronaut, I think I'll be a coach driver."
While you can't deny the power of this series and how moving it is to see people grow and evolve, moving forward, backward, or staying the course, this is still one franchise that doesn't lend itself too well to binge watching; each film includes a recap intended to bring viewers up to speed and sharpen the contrast of each 'current' person with their past selves, but watching them in a row just ends up repetitive. My fault for not spacing them out by seven years to match the real-time that it took to actually produce these…
I turn 35 today so this was very relevant to watch especially imagining if a doc followed me like this:
Narrator: At 28 Nick was out every night doing standup
28yo Nick: I think I’ll probably be on a TV show soon or at least I’d like to anyways
Narrator: At 35 Nick was doing moving jobs during a pandemic which had virtually shut down all stand up
35yo Nick: I just want to get high and hold my dog like a baby
7 ✅ 14 ✅ 21 ✅ 28 ✅ 35 ✅
At this stage in the documentary series, those 7-year-olds are finally older than I am currently. Kind of weird to think about. Interesting hearing them reflect on life in their 30s. Marriage and divorce, raising kids, death of parents, careers, health changes. Real life stuff.
If you decide to watch these, you could definitely space them out more than I have been. Since they were filmed and released every seven years, they were wise to include clips from previous entries in the series so that viewers could get caught up to speed again and remember who we’ve been (periodically) watching grow up. Since I’ve been watching every other day or…
Gets a bit meta, finding out how these programs impact certain members of the series' lives and even their decision to come back to it. Surreal to see how the people change their minds about themselves over the course of their life in this one. Apted comes off as a dickhead sometimes with his unsympathetic questioning. At the same time I see that he's trying to get new and interesting answers.
My immediate reaction upon this conclusion is to wonder why there was no update or even any mention of Simon. He was one I was most excited to see again after the previous film and I hope everything is ok with him.
I think I have probably mentioned it each and every review but this is just becoming more and more remarkable with each future installment.
I still find myself with a soft spot for Neil but was maybe most excited to see Jacky with a child now. Jacky, Lynn, and Susan all seem to have remained quite grounded and have always felt like a down to earth trio throughout this whole project. I am a little worried about Lynn…
I thought the last one was a bit better documentary. I'm still enjoying the series.
The series follows the lives of a group of British children as they grow up to become adults. In this movie they have become 35.
I find the series fascinating sometimes. I can't help reflecting on my own life while watching this series.
I need subtitles on whenever they interview Tony the cabbie from the East end of London.
The people do seem more jaded and beaten down by life. I can't wait to see them have mid life crises in the next movie.
Fave moment in 35 Up: Bruce participating in a foreign language class surrounded by young Bangladeshi students
Heartbreaking moments: Nick reflecting on his deaf brother, Lynn’s raw emotion when asked about her mother
Eye roll moment: John pointing out his famous Bulgarian ancestor.
