Seven Ages of Man, with Michael Rosen: Trailer

Manhood remains a complex and often contradictory concept, demanding that men balance strength with emotional vulnerability and competitive aggression with protective tenderness. Michael Rosen, reflecting on his own journey at age 80, examines these shifting expectations through the lived experiences of seven men across different decades of life. Michael Palin describes a fading of masculine drives and the gender-neutral freedom found in his 80s, while author Colm Tóibín explores the evolution of sexual desire and creativity in his 70s. Middle age brings anxieties about aging for David Baddiel and a sense of traditional empowerment for Matthew Todd. Younger perspectives from Lias Saoudi and Marvin Sordell highlight the transformative nature of fatherhood and the intense drive for dominance in professional sports. Collectively, these accounts reveal how the definition of being a man transitions from physical prowess and ambition toward a more nuanced, reflective existence.