Some Kind Of Heaven is a documentary about the self proclaimed "Disneyland of retirement communities" The Villages in Florida. It follows three residents, a widow and a married couple, as well as a single drifter who lives in his van as a quasi-squatter in the community. The film begins with some basic montage and talking-head interviews but quickly evolves into much more dynamic shots and startling situations. On the surface The Villages is a baby boomer haven, where retirees can recapture their youth with a wide variety of classes, parties every night, all in the safety of a carefully constructed veneer of a bygone 'small town' aesthetic.
It is apparent that there are some people that love and thrive in The Villages but the various subjects are ones who struggle and the contrast makes the lie of the sales pitch clear. The film also obliquely comments on the happy facade people in the community put up, and in general, in order to fit in and get along. Barbara is a widow, still working full time, and financially cannot afford to leave, she's isolated and looking for, and struggling to, find companionship. Anne and Reggie are a married couple with Anne acclimating well to The Villages and enjoying it while Reggie is in an end of life crisis using drugs, experimenting with new age spirituality, and as the film progresses seemingly losing his grasp on reality. Dennis lives in his van, fled California for Florida, and is cruising The Villages expressly to bag a rich lady to support him. Their paths never cross but their divergent journeys are absolutely gripping, full of poignant pathos, despair, pain, humor, and hope at least for some.
On paper this could have been an interesting if rather pedestrian talking-head/follow-the-subjects documentary but the dynamic cinematography, the richness of color, and the subtle yet creeping score serve to elevate the already intriguing subject to a kind of poetic humanity. It has the same kind of vibrant aesthetic as Spring Breakers and the utter compassion of Minding The Gap. A very tricky but mesmerizing balance. If there's a negative its that the film is too brief, you are left wanting more of the subjects, or simply more subjects to get to know, more closure, but maybe that's the point.
The first homerun of 2021. Dark, funny, emotional, verging on transcendent.
Currently available for rent on most VOD platforms.
Don't Miss It.
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