世紀．亞洲微表情：人生的最大財富是愛
《人生七年》中3名拍攝對象手捧自己兒時的相片。 （網上圖片）
【明報文章】6月末，情海湧動大浪。雙宋離婚，冰晨情變。 33歲宋仲基與37歲宋慧喬20個月的短命婚姻玩完，那場世紀婚禮還歷歷在目，如今韓國娛樂圈王子與公主的童話破滅。李晨與范冰冰4年情斷，兩年前，李晨在范冰冰生日時求婚成功，今天雙方卻都說「我們不再是我們，我們依然是我們」。
相差數天，70歲甄珍在台北發表自傳《真情真意：華語影壇第一代玉女巨星甄珍的千言萬語》。她的前夫謝賢特地從香港赴台力挺。他倆離婚40幾年，首度同台亮相，再見像是一對老友。謝賢當眾告白「我永遠愛她」，還擁抱甄珍送吻。甄珍則回應說，「他對我的愛，我永遠珍惜」，「但友情大過愛情」，無意復合而只想快樂度晚年。
在這一波一波情聚情散的氛圍中，看完了剛出爐的新一季也是最後一季英國版《人生七年》（63 UP）。那些7歲的孩童已經老去，63歲時人生基本定型。影片每7年拍攝一次，從1964年開始，7歲，14歲，21歲，28歲……一直至63歲，追蹤這些孩子的生活。透過記錄14個孩子的人生軌跡，呈現英國社會半個世紀的歷史變遷。面對這些來自不同階層的孩子，《人生七年》拍攝原先是想驗證導演的預測：一個人出身的階層決定其一生命運，欲將片子拍攝成階級固化的紀錄，然而這就像一場科學實驗，科學家無法控制實驗結果與預期相符，紀錄片最後變成了記錄他們人生過程的存在。
該劇的拍攝，以第三者，即旁觀者視角記錄他們人生經歷，有的家境優越，有的出身貧寒；有的提早輟學，有的學歷頗高；有的天資聰明，有的從小愚鈍。不過，影片透露的人生哲理正是：幸福的鑰匙始終掌握在自己手裏。人生不是靠來自哪一個階層決定的，而是由一個人正面積極向上不斷自我重塑蛻變而成。觀眾透過他們的成長過程，發現人生的最大財富卻是愛。
以劇中托尼為例，拍攝者曾認為他會重蹈父親覆轍，終會被投進監獄。托尼的父親在酒吧裏玩牌騙人為生，平均一兩週就要去監獄報到。托尼跟著他學會了賭博，去賽狗場賽狗。他喜歡打架、惹事，很早退學。從小想做騎師，卻未能如願。不過，托尼後來並沒進監獄。放棄做騎師後，他開計程車，這成了他的生命依靠，西班牙投資失利回來他繼續開計程車。托尼的性格特點是生命力旺盛，做事樂在其中。到了63歲，他養了馬，和馬兒待在一起。他的婚姻有波折，出軌被抓包，不過那個63歲時的鏡頭令人感慨：托尼看著他的馬兒在陽光下打滾，閃著淚花說他還是愛著太太黛比。幸運的是，他有一個普通卻深愛他的妻子。
觀眾透過他們的成長過程發現人生的最大財富是愛。拍攝對像走到63歲時，最能打動觀眾的不是他們獲得多大的事業成就。導演問林恩一生事業平淡是否後悔，她噙著淚水說此生無悔，這與她找到靈魂伴侶有關。觀眾在為尼克患上癌症而痛惜時，他和第二任太太那迷人的背影告訴觀眾生活還有甜蜜的一面。安德魯的太太回答「是的，我依然愛他」，這時又有多少觀眾還會在意安德魯的事業走到了哪個層次？片中的布魯斯是擁有與給予愛的佼佼者，他對人類的大愛使他能更好地掌控生命活力……
愛，是一種生命。愛，是永遠攙扶的一隻手。恆久與易逝，淘漉與傷害……那種感覺與生命相伴相隨。
作者簡介：《亞洲週刊》副總編輯
[文．江迅]
加入我的書籤 友善列印 歡迎回應
《人生七年》中3名拍攝對象手捧自己兒時的相片。 （網上圖片）
【明報文章】6月末，情海湧動大浪。雙宋離婚，冰晨情變。 33歲宋仲基與37歲宋慧喬20個月的短命婚姻玩完，那場世紀婚禮還歷歷在目，如今韓國娛樂圈王子與公主的童話破滅。李晨與范冰冰4年情斷，兩年前，李晨在范冰冰生日時求婚成功，今天雙方卻都說「我們不再是我們，我們依然是我們」。
相差數天，70歲甄珍在台北發表自傳《真情真意：華語影壇第一代玉女巨星甄珍的千言萬語》。她的前夫謝賢特地從香港赴台力挺。他倆離婚40幾年，首度同台亮相，再見像是一對老友。謝賢當眾告白「我永遠愛她」，還擁抱甄珍送吻。甄珍則回應說，「他對我的愛，我永遠珍惜」，「但友情大過愛情」，無意復合而只想快樂度晚年。
在這一波一波情聚情散的氛圍中，看完了剛出爐的新一季也是最後一季英國版《人生七年》（63 UP）。那些7歲的孩童已經老去，63歲時人生基本定型。影片每7年拍攝一次，從1964年開始，7歲，14歲，21歲，28歲……一直至63歲，追蹤這些孩子的生活。透過記錄14個孩子的人生軌跡，呈現英國社會半個世紀的歷史變遷。面對這些來自不同階層的孩子，《人生七年》拍攝原先是想驗證導演的預測：一個人出身的階層決定其一生命運，欲將片子拍攝成階級固化的紀錄，然而這就像一場科學實驗，科學家無法控制實驗結果與預期相符，紀錄片最後變成了記錄他們人生過程的存在。
該劇的拍攝，以第三者，即旁觀者視角記錄他們人生經歷，有的家境優越，有的出身貧寒；有的提早輟學，有的學歷頗高；有的天資聰明，有的從小愚鈍。不過，影片透露的人生哲理正是：幸福的鑰匙始終掌握在自己手裏。人生不是靠來自哪一個階層決定的，而是由一個人正面積極向上不斷自我重塑蛻變而成。觀眾透過他們的成長過程，發現人生的最大財富卻是愛。
以劇中托尼為例，拍攝者曾認為他會重蹈父親覆轍，終會被投進監獄。托尼的父親在酒吧裏玩牌騙人為生，平均一兩週就要去監獄報到。托尼跟著他學會了賭博，去賽狗場賽狗。他喜歡打架、惹事，很早退學。從小想做騎師，卻未能如願。不過，托尼後來並沒進監獄。放棄做騎師後，他開計程車，這成了他的生命依靠，西班牙投資失利回來他繼續開計程車。托尼的性格特點是生命力旺盛，做事樂在其中。到了63歲，他養了馬，和馬兒待在一起。他的婚姻有波折，出軌被抓包，不過那個63歲時的鏡頭令人感慨：托尼看著他的馬兒在陽光下打滾，閃著淚花說他還是愛著太太黛比。幸運的是，他有一個普通卻深愛他的妻子。
觀眾透過他們的成長過程發現人生的最大財富是愛。拍攝對像走到63歲時，最能打動觀眾的不是他們獲得多大的事業成就。導演問林恩一生事業平淡是否後悔，她噙著淚水說此生無悔，這與她找到靈魂伴侶有關。觀眾在為尼克患上癌症而痛惜時，他和第二任太太那迷人的背影告訴觀眾生活還有甜蜜的一面。安德魯的太太回答「是的，我依然愛他」，這時又有多少觀眾還會在意安德魯的事業走到了哪個層次？片中的布魯斯是擁有與給予愛的佼佼者，他對人類的大愛使他能更好地掌控生命活力……
愛，是一種生命。愛，是永遠攙扶的一隻手。恆久與易逝，淘漉與傷害……那種感覺與生命相伴相隨。
作者簡介：《亞洲週刊》副總編輯
[文．江迅]
加入我的書籤 友善列印 歡迎回應
63 Up
"Give me the child until he is seven and I will give you the man."
Inspired by this Jesuit motto, ITV’s landmark documentary Up series began in 1964, following a group of people drawn from startlingly different backgrounds who have allowed television cameras to drop into their lives at seven year intervals ever since.
Led by director Michael Apted throughout the decades, this unique, acclaimed series has now reached 63 Up, allowing it to gain further illuminating insight into its original premise of asking whether or not our adult lives are pre-determined by our earliest influences and the social class in which we are raised - an issue as relevant to our society now as it was when the series first aired.
Across three films, 63 Up reveals more life-changing decisions, more shocking announcements and joy and tears in equal measure.
The original 7 Up was broadcast as a one-off World in Action Special inspired by the founder editor Tim Hewat’s passionate interest in the Jesuit saying and his anger at what he saw as the rigidity of social class in England.
7 Up featured the children talking about their hopes and dreams for the future. As members of the generation who would be running the country by the year 2000, what did they think they would become?
The result was ground-breaking television and the follow-up films have won an array of awards.
Director Michael Apted, who moved to Hollywood in the late 70s to direct films including Coal Miner’s Daughter, The World Is Not Enough, The Chronicles of Narnia and Gorillas in the Mist, has returned every seven years to chart the children’s progress through life.
Over nearly six decades, the series has documented the group as they have become adults and entered middle-age, dealing with everything life has thrown at them in between.
Now, as the group reach retirement age, the series is back to discover what they are doing…
Tony
London cabbie Tony told 7 Up that he wanted to be a jockey. The films followed him as he chased his dream but said at 14 that if he didn’t make it he would become a taxi driver. By 21 he was on the knowledge and at 28 he owned his own cab.
The films followed Tony as he married Debie and started a family. At 49 they were filmed at their holiday home in Spain and at 56 Tony said he wanted to open a bar there.
When the series last saw Tony, he and his wife were looking after one of their grandchildren for their daughter. The couple talked about their marriage and their hopes for the future.
Where is Tony now? Do he and Debie still have a house in Spain? Did he gets his sports bar off the ground?
Andrew
When Andrew was just seven, he told the series that he read the Financial Times. The public schoolboy went on to become a solicitor with a wife, Jane, and two sons.
When the series last saw Andrew, a successful lawyer, he spoke about his marriage to Jane and his second home and family life.
In 63 Up, we catch up with him.
Sue
Sue first appeared in the series with her two East End school friends, Jackie and Lynn. Since then Sue has shared details about her marriage, her divorce and raising her two children.
In 42 Up, Sue was living as a single mum and spoke about her life and the fulfilment she got from her children. She also talked about her job working in administration at the University of London. At the end of the film she said that she was in the early stages of a new relationship with Glenn. By 56 Up, Sue and Glenn had been engaged for 14 years and Sue laughed about their long engagement and how they were in no hurry to marry.
At 56 Up, Sue spoke about her work at the university, her relationship with Glenn and how proud she was of her son and daughter. She also talked about her new hobby, amateur dramatics.
In 63 Up, Sue looks back on the last seven years and what she is planning for the future.
Nick
When farmer’s son Nick was seven he told the series that he wanted to learn about the moon and refused to answer any questions about girls. In 14 Up the shy teenager made the same comment. But by 21 Up Nick had met Jackie and in 35 Up the couple had married and were living in the USA, where Nick was a professor at a University. At 42 Up the couple had a son but by 49 Up they were divorced and Nick had a new wife, Cryss.
In 56 Up, Nick took Cryss back to the Yorkshire Dales, where he grew up, and he talked about taking part in the films and living in America. He became emotional when visiting his family’s graves and thinking back about the death of his grandmother.
Where is Nick at 63? Is he still living in America?
Bruce
Public schoolboy Bruce was just seven when he said he wanted to be a missionary so he could work in Africa and, ‘teach people who are not civilised to be, more or less, good.’
The films have followed him as he graduated from Oxford before going on to teach in Bangladesh. At 35 Up he was not married but confessed that he hoped he soon would be. At 42 Up Bruce revealed that he had met a fellow teacher, Penny, while working in London’s East End, and the pair were now married. They expressed their desire to start a family and in 49 Up they introduced their two sons.
When the series last saw Bruce, he talked about his sons as the trio planned a camping trip together. Bruce was still teaching maths and enjoying playing cricket. But where is Bruce now? Is he still working?
Jackie
Jackie was one of the three East End girls interviewed together aged seven. The films have followed her as she moved to Glasgow and had three sons. By 42 Jackie was living alone with the boys after splitting with her partner, Ian, father to her two youngest boys. At 49 she told the programme that she and Ian still lived near to each other and he was still a big part of her sons’ lives.
At 56 Up, Jackie spoke openly about her ill health and her struggle to find work because of it and the effect on her benefit reviews. She revealed that Ian, her former partner, had been killed in a road traffic accident.
Despite her difficulties, Jackie revealed that she was looking forward to the future.
Peter
Liverpudlian Peter left the series after 28 Up. At the time he was married and teaching at a school in Leicester. He was quite outspoken about his views about the education system and after coming under-fire in the press he decided not to take part in the series anymore.
Peter, who at seven told the programme he wanted to be an astronaut, remained in contact with Michael Apted, who asked him to come back to the show every seven years. So at 56 Up, after setting up a successful country music band, Peter decided to re-join the Up series to continue his story.
63 Up catches up with him now.
Lynn
Aged seven, Lynn was filmed alongside Jackie talking about how she wanted to work in Woolworths but she ended up as a children’s librarian. The series previously saw her battling a life-threatening brain condition and, in 56 Up, she had lost the job she’d dutifully held for 30 years. Lynn spoke about how her priorities had changed since 49 Up, after she became a grandmother to a grandson who was born prematurely.
Paul
Seven-year-old Paul lived in a children’s home and wanted to be a policeman but feared it would be too hard. By 28, Paul and his wife Sue had two children and were living in Australia.
At 49 Up Paul and his wife, Sue, talked about their two grandchildren and their daughter, Katy, who was the first member of their family to go to university.
And at 56 Up, Paul looked back over the most recent seven years of his life and talked about his job at a retirement village.
In 63 Up, the series finds out how life is treating Paul now. How important does he think the move to Australia at the age of seven was for his development?
Symon
Symon was also brought up in the same children’s home as Paul. When he was a child he dreamed of being an actor. By 28 he was married with five children but by 35 had divorced. By 42, Symon had married Vienetta and they had a son together. By 49 they decided to train as foster parents.
At 56, Symon talked about his six children and how he and Vienetta were fostering other children as well. He talked about his job as a forklift truck driver and how he didn’t feel as though he had fulfilled his potential.
John
John was privately educated and predicted his own career in law at a young age. By 35, John was a barrister and had married the daughter of a former Ambassador to Bulgaria. By coincidence, John’s mother was from Bulgaria and having felt his own background was privileged, he began working with the Friends of Bulgaria charity to help those less fortunate.
At 56, John was still raising money for charity and working hard as a barrister, although he expressed disappointment about the fact that two of his friends are now government ministers as he always wanted to get into politics.
So where is John now? Has he made a move into politics? 63 Up finds out.
Neil
Neil is one of the series’ most memorable people with perhaps the most dramatic course of life events. In 1964 he was an enchanting Liverpool boy who wanted to be an astronaut. Tragically, in 28 Up Neil was found homeless and struggling with mental health issues. Yet he surprised viewers when he reappeared as a Liberal Democrat councillor in Hackney in 42 Up.
At 56, Neil revealed that as well as being a councillor, he was also preaching as a lay minister in the village where he lived. But where is he now?
Director Michael Apted said: “This series is a real gift. By luck we were given this chance at the right time, at the beginning of the 60s. No-one’s ever done it before and no-one will ever do it again and so we have a very privileged position and I hope we have got the best out of it. We have a responsibility.”
Producer Claire Lewis says: “What comes out really clearly for me in 63 Up is the fact that there is so much reflection and so much equality and also the longevity of the relationship between Michael and all the contributors really comes out. There’s a completely different tone to this one and that’s really interesting.”
Produced by Shiver for ITV.
63 Up
You may or may not know to what this post’s title refers. If you do, then you will be aware that it relates to the longest running TV documentary on British television.
Now sixty three years old, the programme’s subjects look back on marriages, divorces, families, successes, failures and careers and reflect on their lives. Flashbacks to previous recordings show how they have changed, and importantly, how they have remained the same.
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