Movie Review: Some Kind of Heaven

"Some Kind of Heaven"

Founded in the 1980s and located north of Orlando, Florida, The Villages is now home to over 130,000 retirees from all across America. This retirement community has been compared to "nirvana" by some, as it boasts its own restaurants, a multitude of golf courses, bars, clubs, and endless sunshine. But underneath the bright and flashy facade of The Villages lies an ugly truth: that life can still get in your way no matter how far you remove yourself. This is Lance Oppenheim's Some Kind of Heaven, a documentary that follows four residents of The Villages as they navigate old age, loss of love, and living in a community that they don't necessarily feel at home in, and that doesn't seem to care whether they do or don't.

Barb, a widow from Massachusetts lives in The Villages while still working full-time as a receptionist. Her savings are gone and she can't afford to leave. Dennis is 83 and homeless, living out of his van while on the run after getting a DUI in California. Reggie and Anne have been married for almost 50 years, and in the time that they've moved to The Villages, Reggie has fallen off the deep end, succumbing to drugs and substance abuse. All the while, everyone around them seems to have found their slice of heaven; an idyllic suburban town in which to live until the very end. The stories of Barb, Dennis, Reggie and Anne are all tenderly unraveled with care and kindness, perhaps something to do with the fact that director Lance Oppenheim spent thirty days living with an elderly couple in The Villages prior to shooting this film. Oppenheim uses a variety of dynamic shots that provide energy and direction to what seems to be an otherwise mundane life in The Villages. At times, this film feels rather experimental. Its pacing and choice of score make for a capturing viewing experience.

In a way, Some Kind of Heaven is a rebuttal to The Villages' own claims of being an idyllic utopia for the retirees of America. Rather than fully explore and promote that narrative, Oppenheim decides to occupy his film with those who are left behind by the community, and whose stories are rarely given the time of day. Oppenheim offers an inside look into the most famous retirement community in the country and invites his audience to view aging and retirement through a different lens. Though the film ends on a note that's unclear and a bit confusing, the film remains impactful and thought provoking as well as a memorable watch.

Rating: 8/10.