Im loving these. What an incredible commentary on so many things, the lives of the children themselves, and all the social stuff,
Seeing Lynne's story, was so poignant. especially the bit where she started off as a childrens librarian on the mobile vans in East london, then when that got shut down she ended up in Hackney library....and then ended up being made redundant as the monies for Library provision dried up! I think that is an amazing comment about how times change!
The optimism of the 60s and education and libraries for all, then being challenged and challenged, until eventually it vanishes and is cut!!
Its also interesting to see how their lives of all the children spanned out....over happy and sad times, and how some of the children felt extremely stereotyped! Which must have been very difficult to deal with. And it raises such huge issue around consent, and participation etc etc...
But.... Im so glad the children allowed the cameras to share their lives with us.
And... As a social commentary. I think Michael Apted said at some point it was meant on one level to be a look at class structures. How the rich children from the prep schools were likely to have a massive advantage over the children form the council estates and childrens homes! And even though ive only seen the first episode... This point does seem to have been proved in spades!
The rich children had the opportunities to go to the best universities and get the best jobs, or in Suzy's case make a very advantageous marriage, whilst the poorer children , despite having incredible and interesting lives, didnt have that initial advantage, so don't have the same money or property behind them! And especially in 2026, money and property make such a massive difference!
I dont think this is exactly new information, but it is interesting to see it, and have a factual long term study, as presented in this documentary, proving exactly that!!
Seeing Lynne's story, was so poignant. especially the bit where she started off as a childrens librarian on the mobile vans in East london, then when that got shut down she ended up in Hackney library....and then ended up being made redundant as the monies for Library provision dried up! I think that is an amazing comment about how times change!
The optimism of the 60s and education and libraries for all, then being challenged and challenged, until eventually it vanishes and is cut!!
Its also interesting to see how their lives of all the children spanned out....over happy and sad times, and how some of the children felt extremely stereotyped! Which must have been very difficult to deal with. And it raises such huge issue around consent, and participation etc etc...
But.... Im so glad the children allowed the cameras to share their lives with us.
And... As a social commentary. I think Michael Apted said at some point it was meant on one level to be a look at class structures. How the rich children from the prep schools were likely to have a massive advantage over the children form the council estates and childrens homes! And even though ive only seen the first episode... This point does seem to have been proved in spades!
The rich children had the opportunities to go to the best universities and get the best jobs, or in Suzy's case make a very advantageous marriage, whilst the poorer children , despite having incredible and interesting lives, didnt have that initial advantage, so don't have the same money or property behind them! And especially in 2026, money and property make such a massive difference!
I dont think this is exactly new information, but it is interesting to see it, and have a factual long term study, as presented in this documentary, proving exactly that!!
Seemed to admit she was deliberately sulky and uncooperative with the interviewer. I wonder if her indifference to the rabbit was deliberately designed to shock on her part.