Sometimes, It Helps to Look at Another Human’s Face

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I’ve been following Sam Green’s work for a while now, and he does something really unique – he calls them ‘live documentaries.’ They’re not your typical films; he blends traditional documentary footage with live music and narration, creating a completely immersive experience. He’s worked with incredible artists like the Kronos Quartet and Yo La Tengo in the past. His newest film, The Oldest Person in the World, which is premiering at Sundance, initially seemed a bit different. It follows the stories of people who’ve held the title of ‘world’s oldest person’ – a title that, naturally, doesn’t last forever. But what’s really fascinating is Green’s plan for the film. He intends to keep making versions of it throughout his life, updating it with each new record holder, almost like Michael Apted’s Seven Up! series. So, even though it feels more traditional at first, it’ll end up being a ‘live’ project in its own way, with his filmmaking career becoming part of the performance over the years.

There’s a unique quality to the documentary The Oldest Person in the World that makes it feel like a constantly evolving piece of art. Director Zach Green initially became fascinated with supercentenarians through his interest in the Guinness Book of World Records (explored in his 2014 film, The Measure of All Things), and he began filming after discovering that Susannah Mushatt Jones, then the world’s oldest person, lived near him in Brooklyn. However, the film unexpectedly transformed into a deeply personal exploration of Green’s own life and mortality. During production, Green’s son, Atlas, was born, and he himself received a cancer diagnosis. As the film portrays visits with the world’s oldest people, we simultaneously witness Green’s declining health and his son’s growth. The project expands in surprising and unsettling ways, feeling as though it might never reach a definitive conclusion. We also learn about the 2009 suicide of Green’s brother, a painful event he struggles to discuss. Ultimately, the film isn’t just about the long lives of others; it’s a meditation on time itself—not the time these individuals have lived, but the fleeting and unpredictable nature of our own existence. Green poignantly observes that we are all, at one point, the youngest person in the world, a simple yet profound thought that highlights the wonder of being alive. It’s a reminder that while we all share that beginning, what comes next is uncertain.

Despite its focus on death, the documentary The Oldest Person in the World is surprisingly optimistic – almost defiantly so. This isn’t a superficial attempt at positivity; director Green arrives at this feeling honestly. He doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of old age. When he first meets Susannah Jones, he observes her frailty – she can barely lift her head and seems to be sleeping – while others around her celebrate her long life and speak for her. Green’s camera focuses intensely on the faces of his elderly subjects, lingering on details like milky eyes, wrinkled skin, and struggling mouths. But instead of focusing on pain or sadness, the director finds beauty in these details. Some subjects are more lucid than others; Violet Brown, from Jamaica, impressively recites a poem by Lord Byron from memory, and Emma Morano, in Italy, sings a popular song from a 1932 comedy film.

The film’s strength lies in its deep intimacy, which feels particularly powerful today when so many of us avoid genuine connection. Director Paul Morano films his subject in her home, acknowledging the usual documentary convention of trying to capture someone naturally while pretending not to be there. To break the tension, he joins her in the frame and they share a long, comfortable look. He admits it’s the most intimate connection he’s ever had with a stranger, and the audience believes him. The film seems designed to recreate that feeling – watching these people, marked by age and with eyes that reveal the vulnerability of life, reminds us how profoundly healing it can be to simply connect with another human being, even a stranger.

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2026-01-24 01:54