ANTHROPOLOGY CHILDHOOD AROUND THE WORLD EXAM ONE STUDY GUIDE FILMS 28 UP Synapsis o While working on the BBC television documentary series The World in Action in 1963 director Michael Apted in collaboration with Paul Almond produced a feature length study of 14 seven year old Britons Titled 7 Up the film drew its on camera personnel from every part of the social strata Apted and Almond invited the kids to expound extemporaneously upon their feelings desires and aspirations Seven years later the same 14 people were rounded up for Seven Times Seven which brought their individual histories up to date And so it went until 1991 with Apted now working solo updating his original 1963 documentary every seven years In 1984 all existing chapters were bundled together into the British miniseries 28 Up By far the best of the updates as well as the most optimistic 28 Up was later boiled down to a 113 minute feature film In both its series and featurized form 28 Up is a fascinating social document those who like cushioning themselves against disillusionment however are advised to bypass 35 Up 1991 wherein the 14 middle aged subjects are a lot more fearful about their future than they d even been before Hal Erickson Rovi What s this film about A film by Michael Apted o This film follows 14 british children born 1956 o 10 male 4 females o it was filmed in 7 year intervals starting in 1964 The people o tony o bruce o suzi o nick o peter o paul o john o Andrew o Charle o Neil o Jackie o Lyn o sue o simon o bruce john andrew charles suzie 5 elite kids 2 middle class kids peter neil 7 working class TONY tony nick paul simon jackie lyn sue he went from jockey to a cab driver he was very accepting of changes in his life When he realized he couldn t be a jockey he decided to be a cab driver and was happy about it sensitive teacher he cared a LOT about children he wanted everyone to have equal opportunity and felt he needed to help them achieve that chain smoker to happy mother she started out seeming to not care about much including herself when she had children she realized she loved them very much and started to care about herself more as well farm to physic he came from very humble beginnings he realized he was very smart though and moved to the US to be an instructor from children s home to Australia and bricklaying he found a wife and they road tripped around australia he was very relaxed and go with the flow barrister courtroom lawyer declined last interview solicitor people s lawyer BBC producer declined last interview doesn t want children comprehensive school librarian after selective grammar school happy mother after comprehensive school CHILDREN OF HEAVEN BRUCE SUZIE NICK PAUL JOHN ANDREW CHARLES JACKIE LYN SUE Synapsis o Ali is asked to repair the torn shoes of his sister Zohra while buying groceries A garbageman takes them and a guilt ridden Ali apologetically offers to share his shoes with her So Zohra ends up wearing his shoes to morning school then must race back so that he can put them on to attend afternoon school To placate her he even gives her a pen that he received from his teacher after coming first in his class With the birth of a third child the family struggles to make ends meet Their father who is behind on his rent does gardening chores and wants Ali to learn this trade With the economic situation getting worse it is only a matter of time when even Ali s shoes will wear out bringing out the question what will the children wear to school then What s it about Ali 9 y o boy Zahra 7 y o girl a traditional modern family living in a poor Tehran neighborhood Who s who children Documentary like demonstration of everyday life solving problems involves effort by Ali AND help from adults Ali and Zahra demonstrate affection for and cooperation with one another adults Ali 9 y o the good son and brother Zahra 7 y o the good daughter and sister Roya 7 y o the honest classmate who returns the high value pen that Zahra accidentally dropped Alireza 6 y o the lonely rich kid who wants a playmate Karim ali s father Royas fater the blind garbage man Alirezas grandfatherL who rewards Karim generously for his garden work How often do adults convey expectations about how a child should behave Ali s father uses angry words What is your role in this family to eat to play The principal at Ali s school says This is how we treat an irresponsible student Zahra in the schoolyard is given instructions about how to prepare for exams Girls recite I am the flower of my country obedient to our leader Zahra s mother praises her helpfulness in household chores Growing up in Tehran So is Ali a good son brother student citizen peer children have avery respectful relationship with adults adults constantly remind children about rules and make demands of children children are expected to help their parents and other adults play is not valued by adult even though children enjoy play Ali is responsive to the demands and expectations of adults He is willing to disappoint his peers in order to please adults Ali refuses to play soccer when he is asked to do so on multiple occasions Ali does not want shoes for himself but works to get shoes for Zahra Ali gives Zahra the pen he earned via good grades Ali helps to serve tea during the service at the mosque Ali accompanies his father to the upscale neighborhood to help him earn money Ali pleases his father by taking the iinitiative when his father stumbles with words Is Zahra a good daughter sister student citizen Are there gender differences Ideal behavior is displayed by Zahra and by Roya Zahra helps around the house she is continually working or studying we do not see her playing Zahra runs hard to get home in time for Ali to get to school Zahra returns the bowl of offering stew which her mother has sent to a neighbor Royareturns the pen that Zahra dropped when she obviously likes that pen While Zahra does chores around the house Ali runs family errands and has more freedom to travel away from home We see boys playing in the street but we do not see girls playing in the street Do ali and zahra have good parents Do adults treat children well Ali Zahra have good parentsKarimshows that he cares for his children and his wife he admonishes his wife to rest and not strain her back Ali s father praises him after Ali explains to strangers that he and his father are seeking gardening work Karimholds his son as they both ride in the back of a truck after an accident At the end of