Living in the Future’s Past (2018)

(On TV, October 2020) As its remarkably evocative title suggests, Living in the Future’s Past is a high-level, large-scope mediation on humanity’s place in its environment, how to think about a sustainable future, and what kind of world we create by our large-scale actions. Actor-producer Jeff Bridges narrates the film in addition to having had a substantial impact on its themes, and his gravelly voice is a joy to listen to. But better yet still is the sharp high-definition cinematography, reaching into nature footage and CGI to present a visual soundtrack to the narration. The editing is often too rapid, but it’s a nice change of pace from the film’s many talking heads. Alas, Living in the Future’s Past has many of its qualities’ flaws: it’s unfocused, shallow, a bit twee at times and unable to settle on a clear approach. But for its faults, I still found it irresistibly optimistic, hopeful and energizing—it’s not a documentary per se as much as an essay about tackling challenges.