Poignant ‘63up’ doc debuted at Film Forum
BY GABE HERMAN
The latest installment of the “Up”
documentary series, which has
followed the lives of a group of
English people from childhood into old
age, opens this week in Greenwich Village.
A new film in the series is made every
seven years to update the subjects’
lives, and the latest one is “63 Up.” It
debuted on Wednesday, Nov. 27, at the
Film Forum, at 209 W. Houston St.,
and includes its typically poignant look
at how people change, and remain the
same, over time.
The series follows the lives of 14 people.
The original intent was to choose
subjects from a range of socio-economic
backgrounds, and with the assumption
that the class a person is born into determines
his or her future.
The first film, “7 Up,” was made in
1964. Every film since then, starting
with “14 Up,” has been directed by Michael
Apted, who was a researcher on
the original film and was involved in
choosing the group of children.
The film’s premise was taken from a
Jesuit saying: “Give me a child until he is
seven and I will give you the man.”
Many movies try to tell the story of
peoples’ lives over time, but in this film
there is no need for special effects or
creative storytelling: we see the people
age, seven years at a time from 7 to 63
years old, as each person’ story is told
and updated in 15-minute segments.
There is Tony the London cabbie,
Nick the university professor, and Lynn
the children’s librarian. There are divorces,
illnesses, family deaths, and
marriages. Interviews along the way
show worries at various stages of life,
from daily concerns to bigger life issues,
The “Up” series follows the lives of 14 British people throughout their lives.
and we then see how those lives have
progressed and matured and taken unexpected
turns.
The series has received much acclaim
over the years. Roger Ebert once included
the series on his list of the ten best
films of all time, and it was named the
best documentary ever on a 2005 British
list by Channel 4.
The “Up” series has gained a following
worldwide, including in America, but
the British director Apted said the series
seems to have extra significance for English
audiences. “I think they possess it
more than the Americans do,” said Apted,
“because the language is fairly different
about education, and lots of things.”
Apted said he spends little time with
the film subjects in between shooting every
seven years, as a way to get fresh reactions
in the interviews. For the movie,
each subject is filmed for about two days
and the interview can take over six hours.
But Apted tries not to get into a
rhythm when making the films, despite
having made the series through many
decades. “That’s what you mustn’t do,”
he said, and he added there are always
new issues that appear in people’s lives
to keep things fresh.
Apted also tries to keep the subjects
happy, by giving them the chance to
take out parts that they’re uncomfortable
with, out of respect and also to keep
them coming back for the next installment.
“I have to, it is a partnership,” he
said. “On the whole, we come to an understanding.”
COURTESY BRITBOX
He said the nature versus nurture
question is complicated, and sometimes
you can see how a life event or situation
affects a person over time. “Sometimes
things stick out,” he said, like only having
one parent, or other family issues.
“You can see how their life is changing
because of what’s happening.”
Apted wants to keep making the series
as long as possible. “I’d at least love to
get them to 70,” he said. “Who knows, I
might go on until I’m 100.”
The unique nature of the series makes
it uncharted territory for each new film
and next step in the process, and Apted
has noted that the series is linked with
his own life. “I’m always amazed that it’s
still going on,” he said. “No one’s ever
tried it.”
ABC Carpet Santa making a one-day visit
BY ALEJANDRA
O'CONNELL-DOMENECH
alejandra.oconnell@amny.com
ABC Carpet & Home’s long-time
Santa will return to the store
this holiday season — albeit for
one day only.
“We’ve been in touch with Santa and
he will indeed be visiting ABC Carpet &
home,” said ABC marketing associate
Katharine Boris in an email.
Some parents worried that ABC’s
long-time Santa Claus, who has listened
to children’s Christmas wishes
for nearly 30 years, would not be stopping
by the store this year since the
store had yet to post a visiting schedule
on their website or social media platforms.
A source told amNewYork that they
had received an email from the home
decor store stating that Santa would not
be stopping by this year.
Now, according to Boris’ email, Santa
will be visiting on Dec. 8, but only 100
children will be able to sit on his lap, according
to Boris.
The store will host a lottery for the
spots and will release details on how to
enter in their newsletter and social media
soon, she said.
Children have traditionally been able
to visit Santa and ABC Carpet & Home
on Saturdays and Sundays starting in
late November.
ABC Carpet & Home is bringing back Santa Claus this holiday season – but just
for a day.
PHOTO BY KATHY VELEZ
18 November 28, 2019 Schneps Media
link
link
