Leave No Trace (2018)

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  SceneItReviews

  9 / 10

  Leave No Trace succeeds in being a massively poignant character study, and a deeply passionate ode to the ‘father-daughter’ relationship. The performances are raw, vulnerable and incredibly visceral. Thomason McKenzie gives an enormously engrossing turn as Tom, a teenage girl who has been trekking the wilderness with her father nearly her entire life. When the events of the film transpire, we see McKenzie’s ability to evoke pity, and portray a soul truly at ambivalence. Ben Foster’s plays Will, a veteran who feels as though he has no other choice but to live in wild, and fend for he and his daughter. This is subtly hinted at being due to his military background, and his suffering of PTSD. Foster’s skill is really brought to light in his turn here as, instead of feeling anger towards his character because of the events as they play out, we feel sorry for him, and understand the depths of his situation and condition. Debra Granik’s direction is unforgiving and really quite bleak, providing the necessary environment for this tale of love, and exploration of mental health to develop into one of the year’s best pictures.

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