Bruce Balden, Jacqueline Bassett, Symon Basterfield

Every seven years, Michael Apted has returned to record the lives of 14 people, tracing their ambitions, successes, their failures, their loves and even one's madness. Seven years are up. Discover whe...( read more  read more... )re they are now.

Flixster Users

90% liked it

857 ratings

Critics

93% liked it

14 critics

Unrated, 123 min.

Directed by: Michael Apted

Release Date: September 8, 1991

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DVD Release Date: October 19, 2004

Stats: 56 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (56)


  • May 30, 2009
    "Give me the child until he is seven and I will give you the man."

    "35 Up" is the fifth installment in director Michael Apted's documentary project which he's dubbed "The Up Series". The first installment, "Seven Up!", was released on British television in 1964, and each additio...( read more)nal film has been significantly longer and more expansive. The project is simple - a group of seven-year-old children of different backgrounds were chosen to participate in a project to examine Britain's future and it's class boundaries. Every seven years thereafter, Michael Apted has returned to the same subjects and caught up with their lives. Some subjects have opted out, and in "35 Up", the most infamous subject of the series makes his return. I was upset when I realized who would be left out of this installment, but it's hard to be angry with them. Instead, however, we can only be thankful of those who continue to share their deepest achievements, longings, and regrets with us.

    Since "21 Up", Neil has become the series' favorite subject. At seven he was bubbly and had a big smiling grin. At fourteen he was unusually contemplative for someone his age and somewhat of a visionary. Since then, however, he's become homeless. Apted finds him drifting and, since "28 Up", Neil looks even more lonely, paranoid, and depressed. He comments on the absurd quantity of letters he's received from fans of the series. His story has captivated the minds of millions of movie-goers worldwide, and for each of them it's excruciating to wonder how he's doing inbetween the seven year installments.

    Although "35 Up" is enjoyable, I didn't find it to be as fascinating as the previous installments. This is simply due to the nature of life. Most of the subjects have settled down, and we no longer have drastic changes in character and personality. As a young man of 21, i'm relieved to see even the biggest cynics make order of their lives - but the series just doesn't have the same unpredictability factor it had in "21 Up" and "28 Up". That being said, however, it's still nicely put together and a wonderful meditation on the mysteries of life.

    The most rewarding thing about "The Up Series" is your reflections while watching an installment. One can't help but to think of their own lives while watching these subjects' deal with many of the things we will go through or have already. How much have we changed since seven? Where will we be in seven years? Where were we seven years ago? Even if you're not entirely captivated by what unfolds on the screen, the personal journey it takes you through is perhaps unparalleled in modern filmmaking. It's not a wonderful stand alone picture, but it's a solid addition to a beautiful series.
  • August 8, 2009
    first of all, this five star rating is a general rating to the whole series, aswel as the review. secondly, its a magnificent study, more than anything else. more than the label of documentary or tv show. I saw the whole series, from when the subjects were still children, until t...( read more)hey're 49, and I must say, its so damn interesting to see and reflect on how people, in general, evolve, wether mentally or physically. Its also briliant because it provides a comparison basis to the viewers, as it did for me. Its no problem to be 7 and say you want to be an astronaut and prefer to play instead of thinking about girls, its no problem to be 21 and don't have a clue of what to do in the future. these are just some examples of some things that are all part of life and growing up, and this doc proves that quite well.
  • January 16, 2009
    Up Series - GENERAL REVIEW

    GREAT, GREAT, GREAT series to watch these movies...started watching them all in order in 2007...

    (by coincidence one of the subjects ends up living in Madison, WI!)

    So very interesting to watch this non-statistically-relevant social experiment unfold...( read more)...

    Reality TV before there was Reality TV...

    We see a little of ourselves in each on of the characters and family...

    A masterful editing of subject matter, to get the audience to CARE about each of the subjects and APPRECIATE things from their lives...

    Ebert puts this series in his all-time top 10 or even top 5 lists...I agree...

    A must-watch for anyone over the age of 25...
  • August 20, 2008
    Interesting docu that checks in with the original kids from the 7 Up movie. Now they are 35 and most have a bazillion kids.
  • May 30, 2007
    Roger Ebert said this may be one of the most important uses of film. I agree 100%.

Critic Reviews


January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The latest installment in the most engrossing long-distance documentary project in the history of film. full review

View more 35 Up reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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35 Up Trivia


  • Which Actor Was Involved in a club based on beating each other up, was an FBI facing a cannibal and stole 35 million dollars from his friends after robbing it from a bank in Venice?  Answer »
  • In the movie Rudy what does Father Cavanaugh say to Rudy in the church. "Son, in 35 years of religious study, I have only come up with two hard incontrovertible facts..."   Answer »
  • Quote from Movie? "Son, in 35 years of religious study, I have only come up with two hard incontrovertible facts: there is a God, and I'm not Him."   Answer »

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