Movie Review: “Leave No Trace” Is A Realistic Story Shot Through A Sensitive And Carefully Crafted Lens

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A father and his 13-year-old daughter are living in an ideal existence in a vast urban park in Portland, Oregon when a small mistake derails their lives forever.

Ben Foster has played some of the most memorably intense characters for more years than I can recall. He began his career as a Disney TV star but since then he’s completely reinvented himself. He’s embodied some of the most psychotic, and depraved villains but always brings some fringes of vulnerable humanity. In “Leave No Trace,” he has a churning sadness inside him, far from committing any nefarious acts. Foster plays Will, an Iraq War veteran living with his 13-year-old daughter Tom illegally in a gorgeous prehistoric looking forest in Oregon. They live almost completely off the land, using ingenious methods to forage, keep water, and other necessities. It seems the mother has passed away and Will is tormented by night terrors, clearly still haunted by his years in the service. An accident leads the pair to being discovered, detained, and forced to reintegrate into society.

Tom is played by Kiwi newcomer Thomasin McKenzie, she and Foster have real father-daughter chemistry and she does fantastic subtle work. Tom is not living a typical life for a teenage girl but she has the similar curious nature and the creeping teenage rebellious attitude. The film asks the question, is it wrong to deprive a child of regular social interactions living such an unorthodox lifestyle? Due to the frigid temperatures at night they must share a small tent so as to not freeze to death in their sleep. Amazingly, Will has kept Tom on track with her education and she is able to read and comprehend at her age level. The title comes into play in many ways but it’s based on the leave no trace policy which is a golden rule when camping.

I love the theme and idea of living in some pristine wilderness away from civilization. Similar themes have been explored in films like “Captain Fantastic” and “Into the Wild.” While I enjoyed them, they focus on bored bourgeois characters making an existential escape to the wilderness instead of a necessity to survive. “Leave No Trace” is much more nuanced and has more to say about love and survival. This is a realistic story shot through a sensitive and carefully crafted lens.

Director Debra Granik shoots the film with depth and exquisite detail, the massive technicolor looking ferns and dripping full moss filling the background. Just like her last feature film, “Winter’s Bone,” the cast and extras look to be comprised of locals. She has a real eye for human stories and never gets too preachy or indulgent in her material. The real conversation is about veterans’ mental care and housing security which are refreshingly discussed in a real way. The film is full of emotional, wonderful scenes with minimal music. In one scene, Will is cutting down evergreens to be sold as Christmas trees in California. It is a sad thing to witness since he was once living amongst them and now forced to cut them down for profit. The film should be seen by all since it is rated PG and had more maturity and clarity than almost any R rated drama I can recall. I hope we don’t have to wait several years for her next feature, but if it’s anything like this, it’ll be worth the wait.

In select theaters Friday, June 29th