Leave No Trace is a quiet slow burn of a film that has no discrepancies between what it wants to be and what it actually is. I think the film’s pace and reliance on silence could be off putting to some viewers, those who have more patience for this type of film will find a powerfully acted and emotionally rich story hidden beneath the natural settings and sparse dialogue.
Leave No Trace has very spoken words. Fortunately the film features a pair of leads that absolutely nail the subtle circumstances of their characters and situations. Thomasin McKenzie gives a more emotionally overt performance that serves as the point of connection for most scenes. Ben Foster as always is brilliant, and builds layers upon layers to his character with hardly any dialogue to serve as a crutch. Director Debra Granik takes a unique and notably restrained approach to a deeply personal story, and despite being so quiet the film has a deliberate and driving momentum that keeps you invested even when surprisingly little is happening. I do think there are moments where the movie tests the audiences patience and there’s certainly some digging that has to be done to find what makes the story so powerful.
In addition to having a strong emotional backbone there is a powerful political commentary that is subdued but effective. Without spoiling too much we see Granik tackling issues of PTSD, homelessness, and the effectiveness of government programs. All of this is delivered in a way that presents the issues and gives you reason to think about them without telling you how to think. I think the film will definitely hit a certain audience in a way that will stick with them.
I found Leave No Trace to be an enjoyable film with plenty to uncover and plenty to think about. The two leads knock it out of the park and Granik shows a lot of restraint in the way she presents a thematically complex story. While I do think the pace isn’t spot on and it certainly won’t be for everyone, for the right audience, Leave No Trace is going to be film that is not only memorable but tells it’s story in a way unique enough to set itself apart from most other dramas of it’s kind.