Video:49 Up

Rumor has it that it takes about seven years to replace most of the cells in the human body. For filmmaker Michael Apted, the quest to document a group of British citizens every seven years (starting at age 7) was based not on a scientific premise but on a religious one - in this case, the Jesuit maxim, "Give me the child until he is seven and I will give you the man." 

Apted's efforts are often referred to as the Up Series. Four decades on, it has evolved into one of the most fascinating and acclaimed documentary endeavors in the history of celluloid, with none other than Roger Ebert declaring the series among his 10 greatest films of all time. And we're pretty sure that Ebert has seen every film ever produced.

49 Up originally aired on WORLD on July 27th, 2010

Click here to watch the 49 Up trailer