My impression of the film Some Kind of Heaven is that maybe there should have been a question mark after the title. The film was made in The Villages, a retirement community in Central Florida, where the 55 and over crowd can have everything close by and enjoy the rest of their life. While there may be a paradise for all who live in The Villages, according to Director Lance Oppenheim there are some downsides. In the film life among the citizens of The Villages may not be what it seems to be and he handles his documentary like it was a drama. But, what makes this different than an ordinary documentary is that his subjects seem to be acting out their parts while following a script.
THE VILLAGES’s website message: The Villages is a collection of quaint retirement neighborhoods located in the heart of Florida nestled between two beautiful coastlines, ports of travel and theme parks. Each neighborhood is unique in its charm and personality are connected in ways where all the lifestyles here for you to enjoy is just a golf car ride away. https://www.thevillages.com/
The opening of Openheim’s documentary introduces the village and then takes you into the lives 4 people starting with Barbara Lochiatto, a widow who settled at The Villages with her husband a decade or soearlier. He then introduces Dennis Dean a rover who lives in his van in parking lots within the three villages. And then Anne and Reggie Kincer who are in the twilight of their years with Reggie on the edge of Alzheimer’s. The three examples were chosen by the filmmaker to build a plot that will delve into the not so heavenly appeal of the Central Florida communities.
With Barbara we find loneliness with the loss of her husband and trying to fit back into the lifestyle of the people she once felt were part of her life. It’s a sad happy story that happens with the loss of a partner, a common occurrence in most 55 and over communities. Openheim handles the subject matter in Barbara’s case well.
As for Dennis Dean, however, the man comes across as an interloper, a man looking for a place to live and a women of means to take care of him. While the women do like his ways and it does give them a chance to have some attention, his motives come across as a bit of a gigolo.
And as for the married couple, it’s a downer, maybe very realistic, but sad and very intrusive. It grabs at the heartstrings and tears at any future hope of those who are entering their final years. Even though it happens like this when one partner becomes ill or psychologically maladjusted, the presentation doesn’t become a heartfelt one but more of a pity experience.
Of the 120 thousand plus people who live in The Villages, there is surely a paradise to an overwhelming number of stories. The community is run with the ageing group in mind providing markets, theaters, shops, restaurants and more within their confines. The have golf, tennis, pickle ball, other sports like rowing, health clubs, hundreds of social clubs, resort type fun things, dancing, and many bars. And that’s just a tip of the menu.
Some Kind of Heaven may be a downer to most, but there is a bright side and for that my rating is 2.5 out of 5 stars. Not Rated, contains a scene of sexuality and some rude language. Now at select theaters, check your local listings for a theatre near you. The film will be on VOD and Virtual Cinema on January 15, 2021.
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
