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PEOPLE & ARTS Tuesday 26 June 2018
In 'Leave No Trace,' Debra Granik stays off the beaten path

By JAKE COYLE to get into the rhythm of
Associated Press each other's breath and
CANNES, France (AP) — heartbeat."
Born in Massachusetts, Foster, the intense
raised outside Washington 37-year-old actor of "Hell
D.C. and a resident of New or High Water" and "The
York, director Debra Granik Messenger," is also a city
has lived a filmmaking life dweller in New York. But
more intrepid than her he vividly described
own. Her films, fictional and how trees have always
documentary, have taken been "medicinal to me"
place in upstate New York, by recalling a spiritual
rural Missouri and, now, the experience he once had
Oregon woods. lying beneath a fallen
"I come from what they Redwood. While making
call the land of nowhere. "Leave No Trace," Foster
I'm from the suburbs," said found he increasingly
Granik in recent interview. identified with his character.
"It's extremely atomizing. So "It was such an intense
your search is: I'm born on shooting process and such
this very narrow path. You an intense time at home.
have to knock on the door When I read the script,
like a nerdy documentary me and my fiancee found
filmmaker. What's it like to out she was pregnant,"
be on your path? Can I be said Foster, who recently
there for a minute?" wed the actress Laura
There are paths figurative Prepon. "Then we found
and literal in Granik's latest, out it was going to be a
"Leave No Trace." It's about girl. So readying this script
a survivalist father (Ben was so deeply moving and
Foster), an Army veteran frightening. Frightening
with post-traumatic stress because this film is in many
disorder and his teenage ways saying goodbye to
daughter (the New many things, sometimes
Zealand-born newcomer the person closest to us."
Thomasin McKenzie). They That "Leave No Trace"
live off the grid in a nature In this May 14, 2018 file photo, director Debra Granik, poses with actors Thomasin McKenzie and was such a personal
preserve outside Portland, Ben Foster for the film "Leave No Trace," Cannes, southern France. Associated Press experience for both actors
foraging off the land in is a testament to Granik as
an isolated idyll. But their Bone" in Missouri. to make this," Granik said. together, doing shared a filmmaker. And the film
shelter is discovered by Granik has instead carved "If they want to see an tasks. In that way, it wove — character-based, off-
authorities, and they're her own unique path American who's working us. There was a physical, the-beaten-path — reflects
forced reluctantly into a in an industry that has hard to keep his nobility energetic shorthand that Granik, herself. She even
more conventional life. come under criticism for intact and his daughter was developed." considered flying Ron Hall,
"Leave No Trace," which consistently overlooking who's really trying to Cast over Skype, it was the "Stray Dog" star, for
opens Friday, was a hit at female directors for the understand him and figure the first time McKenzie, 17, a pivotal scene at an RV
both the Sundance and biggest productions. But out her life trajectory, then was in the United States park. But that might have
Cannes film festivals, where blockbusters aren't what they can come and rap since she was 6-years- been leaving too much of
Granik last month joined the resolutely indie 55-year- with us. Some people have old. The acclaim for her a trail for a filmmaker of
a reporter in a beachside old filmmaker wants. to remain at the margin so performance in "Leave masterly sleight-of-hand.
tent alongside Forster "It's not the sexual time's- that some of the offerings No Trace," along with a "The ferns we trod on and
and McKenzie. The film up. It's the financial time's- are about the margin." few high-profile upcoming trampled, we were happy
has been met with similar up, and not even 'pay me,'" "Leave No Trace," adapted projects (Taika Waititi's "Jojo to know — the ranger
raves as Granik's previous said Granik. "It's: The movies from Peter Rock's 2009 Rabbit," ''The King" opposite assured us — that in two
fiction film, the Oscar- don't have to be so big novel "My Abandonment," Timothee Chalamet) weeks they would be
nominated Ozarks drama and bloated. Bring down was shot in and around has led to JLaw-like robust again," said Granik
"Winter's Bone," which was the bloat, the behemoth. It Portland. Foster and breakthrough chatter for before adding, a little
the world's introduction to can be lighter." McKenzie participated in the young actress. regretfully: "We did have to
Jennifer Lawrence. So amid the cacophony of pre-production wilderness McKenzie brought her own maul ferns."q
"Winter's Bone" was also a summer movies, in between survival training, which ways of preparing for a
breakthrough for Granik, dinosaurs and superheroes, doubled as their rehearsal. scene.
but one she didn't seek to is the tender and earthy Instead of work-shopping "We did a traditional Maori
capitalize on the way some "Leave No Trace," a movie their dialogue, they learned greeting touching noses
filmmakers might. In the about eking out a humble, about making fires, building and foreheads, being
eight years since, Granik quiet life on the edges of shelters, eating mushrooms comfortable and intimate
has made only one other crowded, commercial and working with knives. and not embarrassed
feature: the outstanding, society — right where "With most collaborators, about it," said McKenzie.
stereotype-busting 2015 Granik thrives. you talk at them and they "My mum's an acting coach
documentary "Stray Dog," "People that need a high kill talk at you, and you go your and she's got a technique
about a burly, Harley-riding ratio don't have to come. separate ways," said Foster. called 'hug to connect.'
Vietnam vet she met, and It's OK because we didn't "This particular environment So we would just hug each
cast, while making "Winter's borrow so much money lent itself to being quiet other for a minute or two