Watch The Unforeseen

The Unforeseen is a stunningly beautiful and thought-provoking documentary that portrays the environmental, social, and economic impacts of urban development in Texas. Directed by renowned filmmaker Laura Dunn, the film delves into the tension between nature and progress through the lens of the struggle to preserve a precious tract of land in the vicinity of Austin, the state's booming capital city.

The movie starts by introducing the audience to Gary Bradley, a charismatic developer who rose to prominence in the 80s and 90s by turning Austin's outskirts into luxury communities for the rich and famous. With the help of aerial shots, the viewer gets a glimpse of the extensive housing complexes, golf courses, and shopping malls that Bradley created on once-pristine hills and valleys. Bradley speaks candidly about his former lavish lifestyle, his ambitious dreams for Austin, and his eventual downfall when the state accused him of fraud.

However, The Unforeseen is not merely a profile of Bradley's rise and fall. Rather, it uses his story as a vehicle to explore the intricate relationships between land, water, wildlife, and people in Texas. The movie features interviews with various environmentalists, community organizers, ranchers, and indigenous leaders who have witnessed the impacts of urbanization on their fallow, the Barton Springs watershed, and the Edwards Aquifer.

One of the main themes of The Unforeseen is the connection between development and water scarcity. As the population of Austin and its surroundings grew exponentially since the 70s, the city gradually depleted the underground water sources that sustained the region's creeks, wells, and springs. Bradley's developments, in particular, were famous for their water-hungry golf courses and pools, which drew from the Edwards Aquifer. The movie showcases how water management became a contentious issue among the different stakeholders, with many advocating for stricter regulations, conservation measures, and alternative sources, such as rainwater harvesting.

Another major topic of The Unforeseen is the impact of urbanization on the natural habitat and biodiversity of the region. The film shows that the developers' bulldozers and chainsaws destroyed tens of thousands of acres of woodlands, grasslands, and wildlife corridors, disrupting the ecosystems that sustained native species such as the Golden-cheeked Warbler, the Barton Springs Salamander, and the Texan Horned Lizard. The movie highlights the efforts of environmental groups such as the Save Our Springs Alliance and the Sierra Club to protect endangered species, restore degraded habitats, and promote sustainable land use practices.

Moreover, The Unforeseen reveals the social and cultural implications of urbanization in Texas, particularly for its rural and indigenous communities. The film portrays how the construction of massive housing projects altered the landscape of once-independent ranches and farms, causing tensions between the newcomers and the longtime residents. It also depicts the impact of development on the history and traditions of the region's native populations, such as the Comanche and the Tonkawa, whose burial sites and sacred springs were desecrated by the developers' machines.

Throughout the movie, the audience is mesmerized by the breathtaking landscapes, the mesmerizing aerial shots, and the mellow soundtrack composed by Willie Nelson, who also makes a brief appearance. The Unforeseen is a poignant reminder of the delicate balance between growth and conservation, between profit and ethics, and between the short-term and long-term vision. As the credits roll, the viewer is left with a sense of awe and sadness, but also of hope and resilience, that characterizes the human quest for a better future.

The Unforeseen is a 2007 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0 and a MetaScore of 76.