KQED's Forum

“The Oldest Person In the World” Documentary Explores What It Means to Live and Age

September 18, 2026·54 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Last month, Ethel Caterham turned 117 in England making her the world’s oldest person. In his new documentary “The Oldest Person In the World,” director Sam Green takes viewers through his decade-long journey across the globe to meet people like Caterham as they were bestowed with the “oldest living person” title. As humans are living longer and longer, the film explores our fascination with the “oldest person” and what it means to keep living well beyond the average lifespan. We’ll talk with Green about the people he met, the celebrity surrounding them, and his own personal journey that forced him to grapple with aging and longevity. Guests: Sam Green, filmmaker of “The Oldest Person in the World”, directed “32 Sounds,” The Love Song of R. Buckminster Fuller,” and “The Weather Underground,” among other documentaries Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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