Leave No Trace

Perhaps no other film in 2018 has exemplified true human emotion like Leave no Trace. It's immensely impressive how well director Debra Granik manages to make these characters feel like real people, even if you don't know anyone who lives out in the woods full time. I mean really, the location isn't necessarily important, what's important is that they have a home and that home was taken from them while another home is forced upon them. That's essentially the central part of the film, what's home to you may not be home to everyone. Ben Foster is unsurprisingly brilliant as is his daughter in the film, Thomasin McKenzie, who most certainly draws comparisons to Jennifer Lawrence (another Granik alum). Incredibly powerful and impeccably visceral, Leave no Trace is undoubtedly a film that will leave a trace come Oscar season.

8.0/10

An exquisitely poignant movie about a father and daughter trying to live off the grid in the woods out of town.

Ben Foster gives a truly amazing, understated performance as Will, the "psychologically damaged" father back from the un-named horrors of war, who has lost his wife and mother to his daughter, Tom. Thomasin McKenzie as Tom, brings a gentle, caring teenager, supporting her father, who is trying to retreat from the world into the woods.

The film is beautifully shot, and the pair are very believable as they hide out from the authorities who want her "in school" and him in some gainful employment, separating and further traumatising both of them while doing the "right thing". But Will, with his unseen, unacknowledged PTSD, is unable to settle into "normal" suburban life, and needs to run constantly from his demons from the past.

Ultimately there is a poignant decision to be made, as daughter and father can no longer walk the same pathways. But this movie has such depth, and such compassion for its characters, and their struggles, that even though you know that a climax must come, it still takes you by surprise. Wonderful acting from the supporting cast, including a cameo by Isaiah Stone, adding complexity to Tom's choices... But modern life cannot accommodate outliers, those who won't conform.

This movie broke my heart, little by little, but has become my favourite indie movie for 2018. If you open your heart and mind, you will find it memorable. Oh, and no sex, drugs or rock and roll, nor animals were harmed - if you like your drama real and personal, and with no car chases or shoot 'em ups, this one is a winner!

This is a story with no antagonist, only the harm caused to one loving father's mind by his military service. It is focussed and deep, showing how some things can't be fixed, and some things have to change. The performances are strong, with the tension always threatening to shatter the veneer of control and love.

'Leave No Trace (2018)' is, remarkably, never predictable or on-the-nose. Instead, it soon settles into its own slow rhythm to provide an experience that's refreshing in its ability to show instead of tell. Often, it refrains from saying anything at all, especially during the moments in which it actually speaks volumes. This is a technique - or, rather, way of thinking - it uses to cut to the heart of its scenes and provide some incredibly raw emotional beats. Even in its 'loudest' of moments, it feels marvellously gentle and is brought to life with a steady, self-assured hand. The film is extremely engaging and has an astute ability to render its core relationship with a wonderfully tender realism, examining its father and daughter duo - as well as the former's traumatic background and scarred mental-state - brilliantly and not always blatantly. This, again, plays into its pretty much perfect 'show, don't tell' mentality and allows you to piece together what's going on behind our core players' eyes. It allows for an empathetic and emotive picture that impacts you in essentially every sequence, especially those towards its devastating yet somewhat inevitable end. Overall, the movie is actually highly enjoyable, and affecting, because of this emotional impact. 8/10

Although it feels generally slow-moving and takes a while to really get going, 'Leave No Trace' is a thoroughly compelling, realistic drama that expertly explores the father-daughter dynamic. The exposition-less script is refreshing, allowing the audience to actually think for themselves about the lives of the characters and how they got to where they are at the beginning of the film. All of the dialogue feels entirely natural (a testament to both the screenwriters and the actors) and this, combined with the subtle, yet nuanced direction, gives the film an almost documentary type feel, which fully compels the viewers to engage with the lives and central relationship of the protagonists. 7/10.