POV Season 20 Episode 7 Following Sean

Following Sean is the seventh episode of the twentieth season of POV. This episode features the filmmaker Ralph Arlyck, who in 1969 made a short film about a four-and-a-half-year-old boy named Sean living in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. Nearly 30 years later, Arlyck reconnects with Sean, now in his early thirties, and explores the trajectory of his life and the changes that have taken place in the city in the intervening decades.

The episode begins with archival footage from Arlyck's original film, Sean, chronicling the young boy's daily life as he navigates the colorful, tumultuous world of Haight-Ashbury. Arlyck, who was a graduate student at the time, drew criticism and controversy for his candid portrayal of Sean's unconventional upbringing, including footage of the boy smoking a joint and discussing his thoughts on politics and society.

Cut to 1995, when Arlyck decides to track down Sean and find out what has become of him. He visits Sean's mother and former stepfather, who have both moved out of San Francisco, and learns that Sean himself is living in the city and working in construction. Arlyck soon meets up with Sean, and the two form a rapport as they begin to delve into Sean's past and present.

Through interviews with Sean and his family, Arlyck learns about the ups and downs of Sean's life over the years. He struggled with drug addiction in his teens and twenties, but has been sober for several years. He's faced challenges finding steady work, but currently has a good job in construction. He's been in and out of relationships, but is now happily married with children.

As Arlyck and Sean reminisce about the past, they also reflect on how much has changed in San Francisco and the world at large. Haight-Ashbury is no longer the vibrant center of counterculture it once was - it's now dominated by tourists and gentrification. The political and social movements of the 1960s and 70s have given way to the high-tech, neoliberal landscape of the 21st century. Arlyck and Sean grapple with how they themselves have changed over the years and what their values and beliefs are now.

The episode is a powerful meditation on the passage of time, the meaning of memory, and the complexities of human experience. Arlyck's original film captured a moment in time that will never be repeated, but his follow-up offers a poignant glimpse into the ongoing evolution of one person's life and the enduring legacy of the cultural revolution of the 1960s - for better or for worse.

Overall, Following Sean is a beautiful and thought-provoking episode that will resonate with anyone who has ever wondered what happened to someone from their past or how they themselves have changed over time. It's a reminder that our lives are constantly in flux, and that even as we evolve and grow, we are still shaped by the people and places that have touched us along the way.