Aspies For Freedom

Seven Up! is a popular documentary film series that follows the lives of fourteen British people from the age 7 to adulthood. The fourteen people chosen are of different races, genders, and socio-economic backgrounds. Every seven years, the documentarians reconnect with the subjects and catch up on their lives.
The fourth film in this series is "28 UP" (it was made in 1985, when the subjects were aged 28). Here is an excerpt from Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.'s review of it:

Quote:

One of the most fascinating though disturbing portraits is of Neil, a loner who has been traveling throughout England since the previous film. He is unsettled, restless, and an incessant talker, or the opposite of all of the portraits mentioned above. He lives off social security, hasn�t worked in three years, and doesn�t seem to relate well to other people. He appears to be far from resolving a number of conflicts, such as being turned down for Oxford, that were with him seven years earlier. The odd component in this portrait is how intelligent he appears. He enjoys quiet conversation about literature, he says, and is alienated by the pastimes that most people enjoy, such as noisy pubs and small talk. One begins to worry, watching this directionless adult, that he will never find his place in society.

Do you think Neil is an Aspie?
(I havn't seen this film myself, but this review sure makes me want to see it)

Is he the one that died or committed suicide?

Had a look and found that was a different show, but found some info on Neil -

In utter contrast, the one figure whom has persistently invited the most emotional investment and concern from the viewer throughout the entire project has been Neil. His case is left to the end of Forty-Two Up to provide suitable dramatic weight and climax to the film; he moves from middle class Liverpool suburbia at seven and 14, to a London squat at 21; he's homeless in West Scotland at 28, and then living in a council house on the Shetlands at 35. Physically downtrodden and destitute at this point, it became an issue whether or not he would actually survive from one film to the next; such was his condition that Bruce himself got in touch after Twenty-Eight Up, offered him a place to stay in London for a while, and they became close friends. Come Forty-Two Up, incredibly Neil is now Liberal Democrat councillor for Hackney; has done a Open University degree and courses to teach English as a foreign language; and is, for the first time in his life, "looking to the future". Losing yourself in this kind of real life narrative, within this very unique conceit of a programme, is impossible to resist.

Good luck to Neil in all he does.

And all the other seven-uppers.

WOW! We have seen all the programmes but not 42 up in NZ I think. I am very happy to catch up. It seems there is evidence that no matter how long it takes someone to develop, it is never too late. It is also good to remember not to label someone until they have created their own identity. I am sure Neil may be entirely different again come the next programme, but the others may still be dutifully following the path predicted for them at a younger age. It is a fascinating series.
becca

Ken G.

Amy

Amy

Bronwyn Kate

becca