Unless you've lived under a rock for the last 1.5 years, you probably have heard about Richard Linklater's "Boyhood", one of the best-received movies from last year. We see a young boy grow into a man and people praised this movie for its uniqueness. Well, it's not that 100% unique. Actually the Up Series did a similar thing. In this 40 minute black-and-white documentary from 1964, several children at the age of seven are interviewed about their dreams, their lives and all kinds of stuff. And every seven years, they came together again and added another chapter. This first one here is actually the shortest. All the later ones easily cross the two-hour-mark. So by now, there are eight editions already and the kids from 50 years ago are approaching 60. Sadly, since the last meeting one of the girls (Lynn) died and also the director Paul Almond, who started this endeavor, is no longer with us. Michael Apted, who directed all the films since the second entry is still alive, however. The boy named Charles (a filmmaker himself) is the only one from the bunch who decided to be not a part of it anymore. I quite enjoyed watching this television documentary. As a film of its own I would give it a 6. It's certainly worth a watch and also tells us about life in England 50 years ago. The whole project I'd rate much better, maybe an 8/10. As interesting it is to watch, it's also a bit of melancholy to see these as there is always some transience in there. Anyway, it's really a great idea and nice to see they kept the concept going for so long. The next entry will probably come out in 2019, when everybody is in their early 60s.

This look at a collection of children in England was intended as a one-time thing, but Michael Apted decided to revisit them every seven years. Previously I had only seen "49 Up". "Seven Up!" introduces the tykes as the UK's future. The boys and girls talk about their aspirations, also focusing on the British class system. Apted's association with the series makes it a surprise that he didn't direct the first installment, acting only as a researcher.Whatever the case, it's a really good documentary. There have been equivalents made in several different countries; of those, I've only seen ages seven and fourteen from Russia. But Apted's series is the gold standard, and I recommend it.

"Seven Up!" is the forty minute documentary from 1964 that stands as a prologue for the most forward thinking documentary series of all-time. The film brings together a group of surprisingly articulate seven-year-olds from a variety of backgrounds in England. Through a number of questions posed to each of the children, the audience gets the opportunity to get to know the world through these children's eyes, and often presumably through the parent's eyes and therefore only quoted through these children. Personalities more than perspectives ring through the strongest in this first film, and the glimpse at the education system circa 1964 is intriguing. Unfortunately, as "characters" that will ultimately be seen for another forty years to come, the thick accents of some of them make for a rough start. All in all this is important cinema regardless.

This is a series that should be watched by everybody. It is remarkable to see the kids grow, and deal with life like everyone has to. As far as documentaries go, this series should be awarded a special Academy Award because it is one of the best ever made.