56 Up

Released Jan 4, 2013

2h 23m

Documentary

List

99%

Tomatometer

67 Reviews

76%

Audience Score

5,000+ Ratings

Continuing a project he began in 1964, filmmaker Michael Apted revisits his original subjects and sees how their lives are progressing now that they are 56 years old.

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Critics Consensus

Director Michael Apted continues to utilize cinema as a window into the lives of everyday people, and in the reflection of this documentary we can glimpse our own aging humanity.

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

This suffers as well from the fact that the subjects' lives haven't changed all that much since 49 Up (2005); perhaps the series will improve yet as they head into old age.

Jan 1, 2014

Full Review

Ann Hornaday

Washington Post

The original documentary was intended to illustrate how the country's deeply ingrained class system inscribed itself on the aspirations and inner lives of its young people. But the successive movies have been far less polemical.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 1, 2014

Full Review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

We're now at 56 Up,, and with each passing calendar leap, the experience of watching has only become more soul-stirring.

Rated: A

Jan 1, 2014

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

What would have been a marvelous solo film has become a masterful portrayal of the life journey as Apted revisits these people every seven years.

Rated: 3.5/4.0

Sep 7, 2020

Full Review

Molly Templeton

Eugene Weekly (OR)

56 Up is both an exceptional standalone documentary and an excellent teaser for the series as a whole.

Feb 26, 2019

Full Review

Pat Padua

DCist

It may be true that the character of a person may be more or less set by the time they are seven. But there's no predicting exactly where that character will lead.

Aug 30, 2018

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Audience Member

I assumed this would only get more rewarding as the series continued but after nearly fifty years of documenting these subjects at this point even I couldn't predict just how emotionally rewarding this uniquely conceived and executed project would prove to be. It was really awesome to see Apted get thirteen of the fourteen original participants back for this one, with the lone pass being the same guy who hasn't taken part since 21 Up. I can understand the resentment from many of these generous people at seeing their entire life broken down into a fifteen minute segment every seven years. Nick, of course, best seems to understand and explains why this totally rare opportunity to witness human growth and change over such a long period, even if in such small doses, presents such a fascinating experience for so many. With only one film remaining I've already been getting a feeling of cloying sadness, watching these last couple films, as you see these people, who you now feel closer to, embarking on the later stages of life. I was naturally crushed to see that the first member had passed, but also thankful in a way that this was one of the participants who always appeared to be most satisfied and happy throughout their life. I'm excited and also hesitant to watch the next and final installment as I, in more ways than one, truly never want this to end.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

david f

An excellent documentary.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

This chapter makes for an always engaging look at middle age, even though there is not so much novelty here since 49 Up, especially as it feels that Apted is not that interested in exploring some issues more deeply (like when he barely questions Tony about his unconscious racism).

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Super bra dokumentär! "The original concept was to interview 14 children from diverse backgrounds from all over England, asking them about their lives and their dreams for the future. Every seven years, renowned director Michael Apted, a researcher for Seven Up, has been back to talk to them, examining the progression of their lives."

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Holy shit! Grandchildren the age they were when this started. HOW IS EVERYONE'S BRAIN NOT EXPLODING?! That's too much, man. Nick and Suzy conversation was perfect. They finally get it. Everyone is everyone. I'm sad this is the last one I can binge watch, and I hate the fact that I'll be 5 years older by the time another one comes around.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A continuing of the groundbreaking documentary series. As enthralling as the rest. Please keep making these! This one is interesting bc it comes at the time when technology has changed a lot and economy and government. U r also starting to see health issues among some of them and more deaths of parents. Their children are all grown up a lot of them with their own kids. It seems everyone is more comfortable in their own skin. Makes u reflect on ur own timeline. Thank u participants! Can't say enuff about these documentaries!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

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Michael Apted

Director

Paul Almond

Director

Michael Apted

Narrator

Bruce Balden

Actor

Jacqueline Bassett

Actor

Symon Basterfield

Actor

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Synopsis

Continuing a project he began in 1964, filmmaker Michael Apted revisits his original subjects and sees how their lives are progressing now that they are 56 years old.

Director: Michael Apted, Paul Almond
Producer: Michael Apted, Claire Lewis
Distributor: First Run
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English (United Kingdom)
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 4, 2013, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $701.3K
Runtime: 2h 23m

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