Photograph courtesy of Lance Oppenheim
Ever since documentarian Lance Oppenheim ’19 first heard of The Villages, as a child growing up in south Florida, he’d been intrigued by the place. Often referred to as “Disneyland for seniors,” it is a sprawling retirement community with more than 123,000 residents living in daily vacation-like leisure, with a monthly amenity fee providing endless opportunities to party, socialize, golf, and even find romance. Oppenheim found himself wondering sometimes if the apparent oasis truly appealed to everyone who lived there, and if that appeal truly lasted: “What happens when your fantasy becomes just as mundane as life outside of the fantasy used to be?”