Leave No Trace
dir. Debra Granik · 2018
Living authentically often requires navigating the tension between personal freedom and societal expectations.
Plot
A father and daughter live a perfect but mysterious existence in Forest Park, a beautiful nature reserve near Portland, Oregon, rarely making contact with the world. But when a small mistake tips them off to authorities, they are sent on an increasingly erratic journey in search of a place to call their own.
Why watch
"Leave No Trace" invites viewers into a hauntingly beautiful exploration of a father and daughter’s quest for autonomy, set against the backdrop of the vast American wilderness. This film delicately balances a profound sense of longing and the harsh realities of societal rejection, making it a poignant meditation on freedom and the ties that bind us.
Talking points
- the ethics of survivalism
- parent-child relationships
- the impact of societal structures on personal freedom
- the role of nature in human identity