A thought-provoking documentary unfolds by exploring the journey of Gary Bradley, a real estate developer from Texas. Growing up on a farm, he learns early on about his reliance on nature. Eager to break free from this dependence, he ventures into the bustling city of Austin, Texas, pursuing a career as a real estate developer. In his own words, > "I wanted a life I had more control over."
Embracing his new role, he perceives raw land as “a blank canvas” where he aspires to create a magnificent masterpiece, specifically, a subdivision. However, fate deals him a harsh blow: the Savings and Loan industry collapses, leaving him drowning in significant debt. To compound his misfortunes, an emerging environmental movement directly challenges his plans, fearing that his developments could contaminate the pristine waters of Barton Springs, one of North America's largest spring-fed swimming areas.
In this intricate narrative, the film broadens its scope with insights from Robert Redford, who reminisces about his childhood experiences in Austin, notably learning to swim in Barton Springs. He reflects on how these early lessons unveiled the beauty of the natural world to him. Redford highlights a pressing concern: much of America's natural heritage is under siege from developers and their supporters, driven solely by short-term gains.
As the plot thickens, landowners and homebuilders rally together, hiring a lobbyist to navigate the legislative waters and dismantle the environmental protections. Their efforts bear fruit, leading to the passage of new legislation that allows the development of over 10,000 acres despite environmentalist opposition. However, the tide turns as Ann Richards, the Democratic governor of Texas, vetoes the bill, infuriating the lobbyists and landowners.
Not backing down, development advocates pivot to a fresh strategy, framing the struggle as a matter of “property rights” and successfully garnering support from Texas ranchers and farmers against the environmentalists. This shift culminates in the election of George Bush to the governorship, with Karl Rove as his chief strategist, orchestrating a surprising upset over the beloved Ann Richards. Bush's administration eventually paves the way for the controversial "House Bill 1704." As the lobbyist chillingly asserts, > "It erased much of what the environmentalists had accomplished... The legislature burned Austin to the ground."
The story arcs back to Gary Bradley, who now finds himself embroiled in a federal bankruptcy case, burdened with over $80 million in debt and facing allegations of bankruptcy fraud. Auditory echoes from the courtroom blend with visuals of development and pastoral landscapes as he contemplates his strengths and failures. The narrative reaches its emotional apex when he reflects on the heart-wrenching experience of burying his mother during this tumultuous period.
The film's poignant conclusion captures the expansive landscapes of West Texas while Bradley reveals how his life has been stripped bare. He grapples with profound existential anguish, expressing that when one has lost everything, the struggle becomes not just with material loss but with “dealing with God.” In this moment of vulnerability, he comes to terms with his fragility, recognizing his intrinsic dependence on forces beyond his control. The documentary ends with journalist William Greider offering a contemplative thought that perhaps, after two centuries of relentless development, Americans have finally reached a pivotal moment to mature and resolve to not "leave a wreck behind us when we're gone."
