35 Up

It’s fascinating checking back in with everyone at 35. For a lot of the group, life seems to have settled into a bit of a predictable status quo—lots of career talk and suburban domesticity—but then there’s Neil.

​I honestly see so much of myself in him. His journey is the one that really gets to me, and watching him navigate everything makes the whole project feel so much more personal. I’m really just pulling for him at this point and wishing him the absolute best.

​Still such a heavy, fascinating look at how time actually moves.

It’s fascinating checking back in with everyone at 35. For a lot of the group, life seems to have settled into a bit of a predictable status quo—lots of career talk and suburban domesticity—but then there’s Neil.

​I honestly see so much of myself in him. His journey is the one that really gets to me, and watching him navigate everything makes the whole project feel so much more personal. I’m really just pulling for him at this point and wishing him the absolute best.

​Still such a heavy, fascinating look at how time actually moves.

I need Neil to be better

I need Neil to be better

We’re at the “marriage is work” stage of life. Some of the flashbacks start to feel like knife twists. I ultimately still haven’t decided if I like this experiment and the way it’s framed…

Tony - Good attitude though this marriage seems doomed given what they’re comfortable saying publicly. 

Suze - Doin just fine. 

Bruce - Wow, good for him! Incredible perspective on life and maybe the most selfless character with a beautiful worldview. 

The girls - I love that they always appear together, it’s beautiful. And they largely move in unison. They have a lot of gumption and they’ve coped really well for their situations. And it’s so nice that they’ve done it together.

Nick - Mustache!!!!  Continues to level up. It’s unfortunate that they’re now getting feedback about random people’s predictions about their lives at this point. An annoying part of this experiment. I loved the bit of him talking about his brother. 

John - He returns! Clare seems…interesting. He’s taken up some unexpected causes. Happy for him about the piano. 

Charles - Cool and mysterious 

Andrew - Everything that came out of his mouth in the first sentence killed me but I guess, of course. 

Paul - I LOVE THEM SO MUCH! 

Neil -I’m glad he’s found a community to settle in, I wish he could forgive himself a bit. I don’t know why, but in my heart I knew he’d find theater. Of course people ended up seeing the last segment as aspirational in the mountains. And they sent him letters telling him he was winning at life when he was really depressed. Fuck.

We’re at the “marriage is work” stage of life. Some of the flashbacks start to feel like knife twists. I ultimately still haven’t decided if I like this experiment and the way it’s framed…

Tony - Good attitude though this marriage seems doomed given what they’re comfortable saying publicly. 

Suze - Doin just fine. 

Bruce - Wow, good for him! Incredible perspective on life and maybe the most selfless character with a beautiful worldview. 

The girls - I love that they always appear together, it’s beautiful. And they largely move in unison. They have a lot of gumption and they’ve coped really well for their situations. And it’s so nice that they’ve done it together.

Nick - Mustache!!!!  Continues to level up. It’s unfortunate that they’re now getting feedback about random people’s predictions about their lives at this point. An annoying part of this experiment. I loved the bit of him talking about his brother. 

John - He returns! Clare seems…interesting. He’s taken up some unexpected causes. Happy for him about the piano. 

Charles - Cool and mysterious 

Andrew - Everything that came out of his mouth in the first sentence killed me but I guess, of course. 

Paul - I LOVE THEM SO MUCH! 

Neil -I’m glad he’s found a community to settle in, I wish he could forgive himself a bit. I don’t know why, but in my heart I knew he’d find theater. Of course people ended up seeing the last segment as aspirational in the mountains. And they sent him letters telling him he was winning at life when he was really depressed. Fuck.

35 years old; hairlines are receding, divorces are abound, and two of life’s gravest ills make their impact across the spectrum — cancer and Margaret Thatcher. Bruce is an inspiration. Apted’s questions can cut to the quick, but the honesty he pulls from interview subjects is awesome.

35 years old; hairlines are receding, divorces are abound, and two of life’s gravest ills make their impact across the spectrum — cancer and Margaret Thatcher. Bruce is an inspiration. Apted’s questions can cut to the quick, but the honesty he pulls from interview subjects is awesome.