LEAVE NO TRACE
US, 2018, 108 minutes, Colour.
Thomasin Mc Kenzie, Ben Foster, Dale Dickey, Jeff Kober.
Directed by Debra Granik.
Directed Debra Granik has not made many feature films. Some years ago, she attracted a great deal of critical attention with her film Winter’s Bone, featuring Jennifer Lawrence in an early role which earned her an Oscar nomination. The film was set out in the back blocks.
This film is also set out in the black blocks. This time it is in Oregon, with beautiful photography in close-up detail in the forests beyond the city of Portland. The screenplay shows a father and daughter surviving in the forest, continually on the move, found at one stage and moved into the city (we we have actually seen them walk to shop in a supermarket). Because we have been plunged into their forest life, their independence and interdependence, the visit to the city is momentarily unnerving, and when they are taken in and interrogated by the authorities, psychological questionnaires, we share their unease.
Gradually, the background is filled in. The father, Will, played by Ben Foster (who is frequently cast in rather abrasive rules but is much more sympathetic here), is a war veteran, a victim of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, returned from the war zone but unable to live in society. His wife has died. He is protective of his teenage daughter, Tom (played with conviction by New Zealand actress, Thomasin Mc Kenzie).
The film slowly builds up its portrayal of Will and his psychological condition, a principled man, trying to do the right thing, unable to settle in society, schooling his daughter, training her to survive in very harsh conditions. The attempt to settle him on a farm with a genial owner, with visits to the local church, does not work.
After an accident when Will needs treatment, Tom is able to rescue him and draws on the help of an isolated community, older men and women, withdrawn from society, living in huts and caravans, but building up a sense of interdependence.
Will this be enough for Will? Will it be the kind of life that Tom wants? That is the dilemma at the end.
A sympathetic woman, Dale (Dale Dickey), takes care of Tom and, in a striking sequence, shows her the beehive, trusting bees walking on her hand – something which Tom herself is able to develop and show to her father. Tom also helps Dale and the groceries, discovering that there has been a man living in the forest for years, leaving a bag hanging on a tree that is to be filled by provisions. That is the only trace he has left.
For some who have experienced Post Traumatic Stress, there seems to be a great desire to leave no trace. Is it possible? And is it possible for those who are loved?
1. A piece of 21st-century Americana?
2. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, memories of Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan? An acknowledgement of the reality of the trauma?
3. The title, the traces of post-traumatic stress, the soldiers and the disappearance?
4. The Oregon settings, the forests and their beauty, the close-up detail? Father and daughter living there, in nature? The parks and the ranges? The work in the parks? Hopes? The secluded community and the homes, buildings, caravans? The musical score?
5. Will and Tom, father and daughter, ages, living in the forest, the details of their way of life, shelter, cooking, the bed, wood and the fire, food? Surviving?
6. Going into the city, the visuals of the city, the contrast with the forest? Going to the supermarket? Buying the goods, walking home?
7. Will, his age, his experience, his dead wife, caring for Tom, his experience in war, the effect, the trauma, coming home? Living in the forest? Protecting his daughter? The background information, newspaper articles, the squad, deaths and suicide?
8. The couple being caught, surrendering to the authorities, going to the city, the interviews, the tests? The being consigned to the farm, the care of the farmer? Their life, at home, going to the church, the Minister, the dancing? Will and his wanting to do the right thing?
9. Their going deeper into the forest, the walk, the cold, the plastic bags on Tom’s shoes? The hard life, finding the hut, settling in, Will leaving, Tom alone, the accident, the discovering her father, getting help?
10. The community, older people, the doctor and his help, Dale and her looking after Tom? The episode with the bees, the bees and their confidence? Tom showing this to Will? The food, Tom helping with the bags? The old man who had disappeared, leaving his bag to be refilled? Never seen?
11. Will, his recovery, deciding to go? Tom wanting to stay? The farewell in the forest?
12. Will, staying in the forest – and the image of the man who had disappeared, leaving no trace except the bag for the food? Tom and her refilling the bag?
13. An insight into the experience of stress? Consequences?
