As I watched 63 Up on Britbox, I recalled hearing about it many years ago. I am pleased that I watched it and even more so because I did some reasearch on the series. As a matter of fact, for several days afterwards, I couldn't get away from reading more about it and the people who participated in it...how they started out as part of this lifelong series and how their lives have changed. I give them full credit for sharing their lives and wonder if the creators of the series ever realized how historic and ground breaking the project would be.
The show is absolutely mesmerizing. I feel a certain chill, knowing these people are younger that I am and I am reading about how their lives are slowly drawing to a close. Also there is a real possibility that this great series may have reached the end, particularly now that the director Michael Apted has recently died. I certainly hope that it does continue but it is up to the participants to decide. If it doesn't, it is still a tremendous achievement. I was particularly struck by one of them who, after a very successful life, revealed that he is now facing a potentially terminal illness. Another of the participants talked about his regret at not having a father figure to look up to and now is a very happy and fulfilled human being with something like eight children. Very exceptional for a baby boomer who lived in the same time frame as the others in the series.
It is very moving in the sense that it provides documented evidence of the changes a group of human beings go through as they age, not only physically but in their personal experience. It is understandable that there would be criticisms of the director and some of the questions he asked. We all have personal limitations and certain biases and my sense is that Michael Apted deserves full credit for staying with the project for so long. The film deserves a place in the history of film making and I sincerely hope the time will come when it is so recognized.
