Leave No Trace (2018)

Directed by: Debra Granik | 109 minutes | drama | Actors: Ben Foster, Thomasin McKenzie, Jeffery Rifflard, Derek John Drescher, Michael Draper, Peter Simpson, Erik McGlothlin, Dana Millican, Alyssa McKay, Ryan Joiner, Michael J. Prosser, Jeff Kober, Spencer S. Hanley, Tamera Westlake, Bob Werfelman

Although ‘Winter’s Bone’ (2010) is best known as Jennifer Lawrence’s breakthrough film, the enormous talent of director Debra Granik also shone through in this beautifully intimate drama. Seemingly effortless, she managed to tell a human story about a young girl struggling to survive against the backdrop of a grim America. After a long period of remarkably quiet around her person, Granik surpasses herself with the small masterpiece ‘Leave No Trace’, about a father and daughter who, far from the oppressive laws of civilization, try to survive in the wilderness. . But what happens to their strong bond when the joys of modern society slowly serve up to the daughter?

It’s an alternate mini-civilization that father Will (Ben Foster) and daughter Tom (Thomasin McKenzie) have built in the American forests of Oregon. Once in a while they train their possible escape attempt: after all, the monster of civilization with all its rules can bang loudly on the proverbial door at any moment. And in a sense, that’s inevitable: as well as father and daughter seem to have it, it’s virtually impossible to escape the vagaries of the modern world.

And so the dismantling of their ‘safe’ habitat is only a matter of time, especially when they are accidentally discovered by a lost runner, who in his concern (or call it meddling) alerts the authorities. Tom is initially placed with child protection services, while Will undergoes some tests: is this man suitable to take care of a child? And to what extent does his traumatic war past affect him?
They are then housed in a cottage, where the ‘miracle of the modern age’ slowly unfolds before them in the form of telephony, equipment and, even more wonderfully, interaction with other people. For war veteran Will, this change mainly appears to be a ticking time bomb. Too little inner peace, no confidence in taking up a place in modern society. It is only a matter of time before the restless blood crawls again where it cannot go. But Tom seems to be adapting surprisingly quickly. As a result, the relationship between father and daughter is under more pressure than ever.

Foster has previously shown himself to be a master at playing the ‘outcast of society’ in a film such as ‘Hell or High Water’. And yet the young Thomasin McKenzie is the absolute star of the film. Although many an actor needs years to develop their own face, it is clear at once with McKenzie: we unmistakably see a natural talent at work. It will be interesting to see if she will follow a similar path as Lawrence.

But in addition to the acting performances, director Granik also deserves nothing but praise. Granik does not need complicated tricks, antagonists or value judgments in ‘Leave No Trace’: it is the humanity that is constantly lurking around the corner. Heartwarming, moving and a film that makes us believe in the good of humanity again in cynical times. Without ever getting preachy. This is a film that tries to look for the good in people without ever going too far into fathomlessly flat simplifications of reality, from which a misplaced, gooey film like ‘Green Book’ could still learn. What a movie and what a director. Let’s hope Granik’s new film doesn’t have to wait another eight years.