Filmmaker Sam Green’s documentary “The Oldest Person in the World,” which debuted in theaters recently, explores humanity’s relationship with aging and mortality through conversations with the world’s oldest living individuals over nearly a decade. Beginning in 2015, Green’s film follows these centenarians—most often women—as he seeks insight into their extended lives, though the film’s narrative ultimately goes beyond straightforward wisdom.

The documentary opens with Green meeting Susannah Mushatt Jones of Brooklyn, the oldest person alive at the time. Although she had little to say during her 116th birthday celebration, and died the following year, the film sets the tone for a meditation on the passage of time rather than a simple quest for advice from supercentenarians.

Over the course of ten years, Green tracks the oldest living individuals, sharing moments of quiet companionship, song, and poetry. As the world changes around him—including the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic—Green’s personal life becomes intertwined with the film’s narrative. He documents milestones such as the birth of his son, Atlas, and his own battle with multiple myeloma, using these events to reflect on mortality and the reasons behind his project, which he connects to the loss of his brother to suicide.

Known for his essayistic style, Green previously explored themes related to perception and time in works like “32 Sounds” (2022) and earlier films that integrate live music and sensory experiences. “The Oldest Person in the World” similarly encourages viewers to contemplate physical existence and the temporal nature of life, though it does so through a human and emotional lens shaped by aging and inevitability.

Among the film’s notable figures is Maria Branyas Morera, who lived to 117 before her death in 2024. She offers a simple but poignant message: “You are young. Now is the time to do good works,” suggesting that the meaning of life transcends mere longevity. While few will ever hold the title of the world’s oldest person, the film posits that each individual’s years carry significance.

By weaving together personal narrative, intimate portraits of centenarians, and reflections on life’s fragility, “The Oldest Person in the World” invites viewers to consider how we all confront the certainty of death, and what it means to live fully in the time we have.