Jason Sondhi

The latest in the amazing project California is a Place, from photographers turned filmmakers Drea Cooper and Zackary Canepari. The project already gave us the splendid Silicon Valley fight-club hit short Uppercut, and continuing in the vein of previous pieces, Aquadettes profiles unique, interesting people who happen to be citizens of the Golden State. In this film we travel south to Leisure World, where their lens finds a lovely group of ladies who, in retirement, find fitness and friendship through synchronized swimming.

The film is emotional without being maudlin, as the ladies are upfront about the reality of aging, but enthusiastic about what they do. Watching this is a splendid use of ten minutes, and I highly recommend you do so.