source: NYTimes.com

A few Sundays ago, I did something I rarely do, which is watch "CBS Sunday Morning." That particular episode featured Michael Apted, a director and executor of the "Up Series." The series tracks down and interviews a group of people (originally from the United Kingdom) every seven years, starting at the age of 7 in 1964. The latest film in the series has just been released in the United States and is titled "56 Up" because the participants are now 56 years old.

I was really curious about this series, partially because I am interested in cross-sectional studies, particularly in the film medium. And partially because, as you know, I love almost all things British. I managed to track the first few films in the series down and I highly recommend it, maybe not as any sort of deep and meaningful study, but for the pure joy of watching children grow up and flourish (or not, in some sad cases) before your eyes. It was especially interesting for me, I guess from where I stand, to see how and when they settled down and dealt emotionally with their decisions. I was pretty surprised to find that few had regrets. I am really beginning to believe that life only gets better with age.

Here is the entire first film of the series, "Seven Up!" The series, up through "35 Up!" can be found on YouTube.

Kids really do say the darndest things, don't they?