Summaries

Synopsis

Since 1981, hoards of quirky middle-aged men, donning full white beards, sportsmen garb, and Spanish red berets, descend upon Key West, Florida for the Ernest "Papa" Hemingway Look-Alike Contest, a staple of the annual Hemingway Days Festival held in mid-July at Sloppy Joe's Bar.

For the first time since its history, the final stage of voting in the 2011 contest resulted in a tie between two long-time contenders Matt Gineo and Denis Golden. Rather than welcoming two newly appointed Papas into the Look-Alike Society, the judges deliberated and voted on a tiebreaker, awarding Gineo the Papa title and a lifetime membership into the exclusive Society.

While Gineo basked in the glory of worldwide recognition and became a minor celebrity in his hometown of Jensen Beach, Florida, Golden returned home to Rockport, Massachusetts resolved to return the following year full of his usual charismatic energy and spirit. A few months later, Golden suffered a stroke, leaving him unable to walk and completely blind for several months. Through rehabilitation and the help of a few true friends, he worked toward recovery and prepared for another memorable contest performance.

Since Golden lost the previous year in the closest vote to date, the other contestants (Wannabes) consider him to be the odds-on favorite to win. Some Papas and Wannabes see him as a symbol of inspiration and determination; while others are jealous of the attention he receives and consider him to be a threat to their chances of winning the coveted Look-Alike title.