Debra Granik’s latest offering has a trailer. This time around, the “Winter’s Bone” co-writer and director is telling the story of a father and daughter whose lives are upended when local authorities put an end to their idyllic existence in the forests of Portland, Oregon.
Tom (Harcourt McKenzie) and Will (Ben Foster) have spent years living off the grid and on the land when they are discovered and put into social services. Though she insists that the pair “didn’t need to be rescued” and her father has provided both food and shelter, the teen is told that it’s illegal to live on public land.
“We can still think our own thoughts,” Will reassures his daughter when they move in with another family. While Tom is open to trying to adapt to their new lives, Will is much more resistant. It’s also hinted that the vet is dealing with PTSD.
Will chose to live in isolation — Tom didn’t really have a choice in the matter. And it seems like she is beginning to enjoy her new life when her father insists they make a run for it.
“I don’t want to leave,” she tells Will. “The same thing that’s wrong with you isn’t wrong with me.”
Granik received an Oscar nomination for co-writing Jennifer Lawrence breakout “Winter’s Bone.” She most recently directed the 2014 doc “Stray Dog,” a portrait of a biker and Vietnam vet.
“Leave No Trace” premiered at Sundance to strong reviews and will screen at Cannes in May. The drama hits select theaters starting June 29.
