Future by Design

At the age of 90, Jacque Fresco still thinks a lot about the future. As a youth, he was inspired by Fritz Lang's science fiction classic Metropolis, and later met futurist Buckminster Fuller and Albert Einstein. Fresco is a self-taught planner, a man who's always thought of himself as more of a technician than a philosopher, and like another Renaissance man, Leonardo da Vinci, doesn't usually have the financial resources to realize his dreams. Oscar-nominated filmmaker William Gazecki's (Waco: The Rules of Engagement) latest documentary offers a portrait of a visionary who sees a world in which high tech combines with nature to provide a sustainable and comfortable standard of living for all of its citizens. The bulk of the film shows Fresco at his "Venus Project" compound, a collection of 10 buildings spread out over 25 acres in rural Florida, where he guides his visitors around, explaining how his futuristic buildings would function. Some of Fresco's ideas already seem to have been incorporated into modern life (notably a memory system for automobiles), while others, such as a fantastic plan to build cities in the sea, seem farfetched (as his assistant points out, however, that's what people once said about moon landings). Unfortunately, Future by Design is poorly organized, with too many scenes of Fresco—who is both articulate and provocative—jumping from one topic to another. DVD extras on this two-disc set include a director's commentary track, additional scenes and bonus interviews, and extensive print materials. A strong optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)