Inside the palm-tree-lined streets of The Villages, America’s largest and most utopian retirement community in central Florida, we meet four residents living on the margins, struggling to find happiness. Referred to as the “Disneyland for Retirees,” this preplanned community offers perfectly manicured lawns, singles mixers, bocce ball, and countless activities to re-energize the golden years of life.

While most of “the Villagers” have bought into the packaged positivity, Barbara, Dennis, and couple Anne and Reggie each struggle to find their footing in this fantasy land as they seek new purpose, look for second love, and navigate the extremes of mental deterioration.

In his feature debut, filmmaker Lance Oppenheim, delicately balances the humor and absurdity of an outlandish setting with the deeply human experiences of those living within it. With strikingly composed cinematography, Some Kind of Heaven challenges our stereotypes around aging, emboldening its characters to live as vibrantly as possible in the time they have left.

Released on Friday 12 March at 18.00. The movie was available for streaming for 48 h.

SOME KIND OF HEAVEN – Official Trailer from Lance Oppenheim on Vimeo.