In 1963, director Michael Apted interviewed a diverse group of British seven-year-olds about their hopes for the future. Since then he has returned to them at seven-year intervals to see what changes time has wrought. In this film these children are 35, and this often touching documentary... [More]

In 1963, director Michael Apted interviewed a diverse group of British seven-year-olds about their hopes for the future. Since then he has returned to them at seven-year intervals to see what changes time has wrought. In this film these children are 35, and this often touching documentary explores the sometimes predictable, sometimes surprising ways their lives have turned out. While some have managed to fulfill their every dream, others remain lost and unfocused, and a few of the original subjects simply refused to appear at all. Divorce and death have touched some lives, while others have yet to experience a fulfilling romance. The film investigates whether there is any truth to the Jesuit quote "Give me a child until he is seven, and I will give you the man." Old footage of the subjects is spliced with new material, leaving viewers to draw their own conclusions. Initially conceived as an investigation of the class system in England, the longest-running documentary project in history has become much more--a moving portrait of individuals trying to cope with all of life's complexities. [Less]