Some Kind of Connection- the Up Series

Summary

This list of films includes notable documentaries and movies that track the lives and experiences of individuals over time. Notable entries include the 'Up' series, which follows a group of people from the age of seven through adulthood, revisiting their lives every seven years. Alongside, films like 'Boyhood,' a narrative shot over 12 years, and the 'Before' trilogy, which examines evolving relationships over the years, are highlighted. These films collectively explore themes of time, change, and the human condition.

Takeaways

• 😀 The script references several documentaries and films that follow individuals over long periods of time, such as the 'Up' series, which documents the lives of a group of people at different intervals from childhood to adulthood.
• 😀 The 'Up' series began in 1964 with 'Seven Up' and has continued at regular intervals, with the latest installment being '56 Up' in 2012.
• 😀 The 'Up' series includes titles like 'Seven Up' (1964), '21 Up' (1977), '28 Up' (1984), '35 Up' (1991), '42 Up' (1998), '49 Up' (2005), and '56 Up' (2012), showing the passage of time and evolution of the participants' lives.
• 😀 'Boyhood' (2014) is another significant film that uses a similar approach, following the same group of actors over a 12-year period to capture the growth and changes in a boy’s life.
• 😀 The 'Before' trilogy ('Before Sunrise' in 1995, 'Before Sunset' in 2004, and 'Before Midnight' in 2013) also explores the long-term development of relationships, spanning over nearly two decades with the same characters.
• 😀 The use of multiple documentaries and films like 'Hoop Dreams' (1994) demonstrates a continuous storytelling approach, capturing real-life stories over an extended period.
• 😀 The repeated mention of 'Seven Up' (1964) and '21 Up' (1977) suggests these are particularly influential milestones in the 'Up' series, where viewers see the most significant shifts in the participants’ lives.
• 😀 The blending of different films and series in the transcript reflects an interest in real-life storytelling and the concept of tracking personal growth and societal change over time.
• 😀 The inclusion of 'Before Sunrise', 'Before Sunset', and 'Before Midnight' highlights the exploration of personal relationships and the effects of time on individuals’ connections and emotional journeys.
• 😀 Overall, the transcript suggests a strong theme of following characters through significant life stages, both through fiction and documentary, capturing how people change and how time shapes their experiences.

Q & A

What do the titles like 'Seven Up', '21 Up', and '56 Up' refer to?

These titles refer to a series of British documentary films directed by Michael Apted, which track the lives of a group of individuals from diverse backgrounds at seven-year intervals, starting from age seven.

Why is the series called 'Up'?

'Up' refers to the idea of revisiting the participants every seven years, with the title indicating their age at the time of filming. The series is meant to examine how their lives evolve over time.

How do the films in the 'Up' series explore societal changes?

The 'Up' series offers a unique perspective on how different socio-economic backgrounds, education, and family structures influence the participants' life choices, careers, and personal growth. The films reveal long-term societal changes over several decades.

What is the significance of the 'Before' trilogy in relation to the 'Up' series?

The 'Before' trilogy (Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and Before Midnight) shares a similar format of revisiting characters at regular intervals to explore the evolution of their relationship. This parallels the 'Up' series' exploration of personal change and growth over time, but with a focus on fictional characters and romance.

Why are 'Boyhood' (2014) and 'Hoop Dreams' (1994) included in the transcript?

Both 'Boyhood' and 'Hoop Dreams' are other notable examples of films that explore the passage of time and the developmental journey of individuals. They are often compared to the 'Up' series for their deep, longitudinal approach to documenting real-life experiences.

What is the central theme of the 'Up' series?

The central theme of the 'Up' series is the exploration of life and its inevitable changes. It provides a snapshot of how early life experiences shape individuals' futures, reflecting on fate, free will, and the impact of societal conditions.

How do the filmmakers capture the evolving perspectives of the participants?

The filmmakers revisit the same group of individuals every seven years, allowing them to reflect on their past experiences and examine how their perspectives have evolved over time. The interviews serve as a way to gauge the passage of time and its effects on identity, goals, and worldview.

Why are the films structured around a seven-year interval?

The seven-year interval was chosen to capture significant life changes, particularly during the formative years of childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. This interval allows the filmmakers to document both personal and societal shifts in a manageable but meaningful timeframe.

What role do personal choices play in the development of the participants' lives?

Personal choices are a key focus of the 'Up' series, as the films reveal how decisions made in childhood, such as educational opportunities or career aspirations, influence the trajectory of each participant's life. The documentaries explore the interplay between individual agency and social factors.

How do the films address the impact of time on human relationships?

The 'Up' series demonstrates how relationships change over time, not only between the participants and the filmmakers but also between the participants themselves. Marriages, friendships, and family dynamics evolve as the years pass, illustrating how life stages shape interpersonal connections.