DVD Talk reviews The Unforeseen

We received our first official DVD review from DVD Talk’s Jamie Rich.

What with all the talk of the subprime mortgage crisis and how it’s effecting the common citizenry, many of whom are losing their homes, it’s hard to imagine that most people looking to watch a good documentary would want to pick a film about the long-lasting effects of urban sprawl; yet, the recent arrival of Laura Dunn’s The Unforeseen on DVD would almost seem like fortuitous planning as, in a lot of ways, its message is exactly what we need to hear. Though land development is the topic of choice, the greater meaning of The Unforeseen extends beyond who wants to build houses where; rather, it encourages us to stop and think about what it is we may be doing, to take stock of how our actions today may impact our future. One hopes in all this talk of bailouts and quick fixes, cool heads might prevail and think about what will happen when the band-aids will need to be replaced. 
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FINAL THOUGHTS:
Recommended. Laura Dunn’s The Unforeseen is an elegantly constructed examination of how urban development has an impact beyond the immediate area and beyond the immediate present. It also chronicles the struggles in Texas, centered on the Barton Springs area near Austin, to settle questions regarding the clash between private property rights and the public good. Though working under a specific thesis, Dunn is a fair filmmaker who manages to make a persuasive argument without giving short shrift to her opponents. It’s a timely film that will make you think about the changes afoot in our country and the crises we all face. The Unforeseen is hopeful and thought provoking at the same time.