Oscar-nominated filmmaker Sam Green’s documentary *The Oldest Person in the World* examines people who have held the longevity record, following a decade of research and filming. The project matters because it uses extraordinary old age to explore broader themes of mortality, time, chance and the value of being alive.

The film begins with a birthday party for Susannah Mushatt Jones, who slept through much of the event, and also includes Green’s son Atlas and reflections prompted by the director’s own worrying medical diagnosis. It premiered at Sundance and has screened at several international festivals; its theatrical release began in New York on 10 September, followed by Los Angeles and San Francisco, with further cities planned.