On DVD: Married in America 2

Directed by Michael Apted.

The name Michael Apted should be familiar to any true documentary film fan. Apted  is the director of the seminal documentary film series 7 Up that follows the lives of selected British children every 7 years, starting at the age of 7. The most recent film in the series was 49 Up. Apted began documenting the lives of 9 married couples in 2001 and vows to follow up with them every 5 years. Now, Married in America 2, completed in 2006, was recently released on DVD by Docurama,

The Movie

Apted has wisely chosen a diverse selection of couples to follow in this series, which keeps things interesting throughout. And, if you missed the first film, don’t worry: clips from the first film are nicely edited in throughout to catch you up on each duo.

Apted chose couples of varying ethnic backgrounds, religious affiliations, interests and sexual orientation. He follows everyone from a lesbian couple to a couple who feels that a challenge to their marriage is that they like different football teams.

The couples face the usual obstacles, like choosing when to have a baby or if to have a baby at all to budget and financial concerns. Some couples, like the lesbian couple, face additional stress and criticism from parents and even from complete strangers, which is shown in all of its ugliness at a simple dinner at a restaurant captured by Apted’s cameras.

Seems the most common problem facing the couples, other than financial, is finding time to spend together. With most American’s working longer and longer work hours, one of the first casualties of more overtime is a relationship. The relationship simply withers on the vine due to lack of care and nurturing.

If you have seen the first film, you might have secretly made predictions on the strength and durability of some of the marriages and tried to forecasts which couples would make it and which ones didn’t. I bet you were wrong on some counts, right on others. Who can predict the mercurial nature of the human heart?

Apted brings the same even handed and unbiased approach so apparent in his other documentary work to this film series. Apted simple asks questions and captures naturally what is happening in these people’s life without pretense or contention.

What will happen in the next installment? Who is going to make it to see their 10 year anniversary and who will be standing in front of a judge requesting a divorce?

Married in America 2 will have you hooked from the very first frame until the last contemplating the fate of these ordinary people navigating the adventure called love and marriage.

9/10

The Video

Married in America 2 is presented in the original full frame aspect ratio. The transfer looks good and I did not notice any instances of grain or artifacts.

7/10

The Audio

Married in America 2 is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1. The dialogue is crystal clear throughout.

7/10

The Packaging and Bonus Features

Married in America 2 is presented in a standard amaray case with artwork appropriate to the film presented.

There are a few bonus features to explore on this release. A nearly 40 minute interview with Michael Apted is included and is definitely worth your attention.

Casting Interviews: Love at First Sight clocks in under 10 minutes and explores the casting process involved in making these films.

Rounding out the bonus features are the original theatrical trailer, photo gallery and filmmaker biography.

7.5/10

Overall (not an average) 8/10

Suzie Lackey

The Movie 9/10

The Video 7/10

The Audio 7/10

The Packaging and Bonus Features 7.5/10

Overall (Not an Average) 8/10