Leave No Trace is a 2018 American independent drama film directed by Debra Granik from a screenplay written by Granik and Anne Rosellini, and starring Ben Foster, Thomasin McKenzie, Jeff Kober, and Dale Dickey. It is based on Peter's Rock 2009 novel My Abandonment, which is based on a true story.
Premise[]
A father and his daughter lead a peaceful life in the woods in Portland, Oregon. However, their fate changes after an incident derail their lives.
Cast[]
Cast | Character name | Character description |
---|---|---|
Ben Foster | Will | Military veteran suffering from PTSD |
Thomasin McKenzie | Tom | Will's daghter |
Jeff Kober | Mr. Walters | Tree farm owner |
Dale Dickey | Dale | Owner of the trailer park |
Dana Millican | Jean Bauer | Tom's social worker |
Michael Prosser | James | Will's social worker |
Derek John Drescher | Larry | Medication exchange |
Isaiah Stone | Isaiah | Friend of Tom |
Production[]
Prioritized photography and filming place in Portland, Oregon, in spring 2017. Moreover, the main forest scenes were filmed in a park named Eagle Fern Park in Clackamas County.
Release[]
It premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, and was theatrically released by Bleecker Street in the United States, on June 29, 2018.
Soundtrack[]
- Forest Park (1:18)
- Rough Country (2:02)
- The Runner (1:13)
- Taken (1:35)
- Drive to the Farm (2:26)
- Raid (1:38)
- Return to the Forest (2:41)
- Lost (2:39)
- Not That Kind of Trouble (1:30)
- Tiny House (0:57)
- Shelter (3:38)
- The Long Night (1:40)
- Finding Will (1:33)
- Bus Out of Town (2:06)
- We Share a Star (2:20)
Awards and nominations[]
Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipients | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gotham Awards | November 26, 2018 | Best Actor | Ben Foster | Nominated |
Breakthrough Actor | Thomasin McKenzie | Nominated | ||
Detroit Film Critics Society | December 3, 2018 | Best Supporting Actress | Thomasin McKenzie | Nominated |
National Board of Review | January 8, 2019 | Breakthrough Performance | Thomasin McKenzie | Won |
Top Ten Independent Films | Leave No Trace | Won | ||
Los Angeles Film Critics Association | December 9, 2018 | Best Director | Debra Granik | Won |
Best Actor | Ben Foster | Runner-up | ||
Critics' Choice Movie Awards | January 13, 2019 | Best Young Performer | Thomasin McKenzie | Nominated |
Satellite Awards | February 17, 2019 | Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama | Ben Foster | Nominated |
Best Adapted Screenplay | Debra Granik and Anne Rosellini | Nominated | ||
Best Independent Film | Leave No Trace | Nominated | ||
Independent Spirit Awards | February 23, 2019 | Best Feature | Anne Harrison, Linda Reisman and Anne Rosellini | Nominated |
Best Director | Debra Granik | Nominated | ||
Best Supporting Female | Thomasin McKenzie | Nominated | ||
San Diego Film Critics Society | December 10, 2018 | Best Picture | Leave No Trace | Won |
Breakthrough Artist | Thomasin McKenzie | Won | ||
Best Director | Debra Granik | Won | ||
USC Scripter Award | February 9, 2019 | Debra Granik, Anne Rosellini and Peter Rock | Won |
Trivia[]
- Some of the character's names match that of the actors, like Dale and Isaiah.
- This is the second time Dickon Hinchliffe, the composer that used to be part of Tindersticks, collaborated with director and writer Debra Granik. Their first collaboration was in the 2010 independent drama film Winter's Bone.
- Former Dream Syndicate and Opal member and off-grid musical artist Kendra Smith contributed the original song "Moon Boat" (her first solo recording since 1996), which plays over the end credits.
- Oregon Folk musical artists Michael Hurley and Marisa Anderson have made cameo musical performances in the film.