I didn’t know that filmmaker Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream, mom !, Black Swan, The Wrestler) was attached to the documentary Some kind of sky when I sat down to watch for this review. All I knew was that this film was about life in the Florida retirement community, Villages, but I soon found out that this was a much darker and more distorted document than you could imagine its central theme would provide. So, when Aronofsky’s name appeared in the final credits as a producer, I thought, “from course,’ because this film seems to be in line with the kind of things he puts into his own films, usually a darker view of the life we lead.
Aronofsky serves as a kind of guide and mentor for the true genius who made the ironically titled Some kind of sky, and that would be Lance Oppenheim, a young documentary filmmaker previously known for his eccentric shorts, including Long-Term Parking and The happiest man in the world and here making his debut in the feature. What a debut! Preparing to make a film about the Villages, Florida’s vast retirement community that calls itself a “utopia” and a fantasy land of homes for the elderly who are selling an idea of ”happily ever after” in their golden years , Oppenheim basically moved for a few months – in disguise, so to speak – to delimit the territory and find angles to tell this story in a way that defies marketing materials. Soon he would discover his “cast” and, with the eyes of a great filmmaker, he knew that, following the key figures he finds in various places in The Villages, he could tell a story of humanity in search of a good life, but failing .
With his cameras ready and somehow avoiding the suspicious eyes of the Villages administration, he introduces us to a distinct group, including the couple Anne and Reggie Kincer, married at the age of 47 but entering a dangerous phase when Reggie wants to have fun more and experiment with drugs as Anne’s discontent emerges. Then there is Barbara, who came to the Villages for her “happily ever after” with her husband, but found that she was interrupted when he died suddenly, leaving her with a full-time job and chronic depression about what life has thrown her at. . Then there’s Lynn Henry, a golf cart-free salesperson and senior fan of Jimmy Buffett that Barbara thinks may be her answer to renewed (or not) happiness. And the most interesting is Dennis Dean, ex-handyman for the stars and an intruder in the Villages who lives in his van and looks for a rich old widow to welcome him. Weaving these stories in and out, Oppenheim creates a remarkable portrait of life after 65, the broken promises and complexities of life are still with us as we pursue the American dream in our waning years.
If these specific episodes are indicative of all actually living in this contained community is not an issue; we are sure that many residents are very happy to live their lives in this closed environment. But by focusing on those Oppenheim does let’s meet, he creates a fascinating palette of humanity in a documentary so real and convincing that you could swear that everyone is an actor in a film that this extraordinarily promising filmmaker has completely invented – a film that Darren Aronofsky himself could have made. It may be some kind of paradise for many, but it’s kind of something more for others.
Check out my video review at the link above with scenes from the film, which debuted at last year’s Sundance Film Festival. Magnolia launches it, from the New York Times film division, today in various formats.
Do you plan to see Some kind of sky? Let us know what you think.