Director Debra Granik is best known for launching the career of Jennifer Lawrence in 2010’s ‘Winter’s Bone.’ She is drawn to characters that are on the fringes of society. Her latest is no exception. ‘Leave No Trace’ is about a father named Will (Ben Foster), a traumatized war vet who lives off the grid with his daughter Tom (Thomasin McKenzie) in a state park west of Portland, Oregon. You get a sense of danger lurking from the green woods. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Will cherishes his daughter. He wants what is best for her but the alienation from society seems to have clouded his better judgment. The story is adapted from Peter Rock’s novel ‘My Abandonment.’ ‘Leave No Trace’ is one of the best indie films of 2018.
The film opens with Will and Tom isolated but peacefully existing in an Oregon state park. They grow their own food and make occasional trips to the city for supplies. They clearly enjoy each other’s company playing chess together, reading books and practicing drills to remain undetected. Their luck runs out one day when government authorities track them down and arrest them. Instead of being treated like outlaws, social services find housing and even a job for Will at a Christmas tree farm. Tom adapts quickly to her new environment and even befriends a boy who introduces her to a 4-H Club where she bonds with a bunny rabbit. On the other hand, Will is having a rough time adjusting to his new routine. You can tell he misses the freedom of being isolated from society. It’s the father/daughter relationship that goes through necessary changes that makes ‘Leave No Trace’ so compelling to watch.
Will is restless. He wants to go back to the world where he feels in control. It’s the call of the wild. Unfortunately, his daughter Tom is beginning to feel like that’s not the kind of life she wants to return to. She wants stability and soon realizes that her father may not be able to provide that for her. She reluctantly goes back into the woods when Will is stricken by a major leg injury. This is a fork in the road for Tom. She’s lost her desire to live off the grid. McKenzie delivers a revelatory performance. The young New Zealand actress is destined to be a star some day. She is a naturally gifted actress. Granik has a knack for finding fresh new talent and allowing her indie films to be launch pads to their careers. ‘Leave No Trace’ is about family, loyalty and compassion. It’s also a look at the beauty of nature as well as the harsh reality of it too.
This film will grab you and never let you go until the closing credits. This is a masterwork by Granik that uses very little dialogue to get her meaning across to the audience. It’s a visually stunning film. The Oregon wilderness looks inviting and foreboding at the same time. Granik never takes the clichéd approach to Will and Tom’s journey. The fact is Tom is growing up. Their relationship remains unbroken but things must ultimately change. ‘Leave No Trace’ is a must-see indie film that finds its soul off the grid.
