Without a ‘Trace’
Emerson prof, producer Reisman explores father-daughter mystery
Before “The Danish Girl” won Alicia Vikander a best supporting actress Oscar, Linda Reisman had spent 12-13 years bringing it to the screen. Friday’s “Leave No Trace,” loosely inspired by a real event and starring Boston native Ben Foster (“Hell or High Water,” “Lone Survivor”), was another yearslong odyssey.
“These films take a long time,” acknowledged Boston-based Reisman, who, in addition to real-world movie producing, is Emerson College’s senior distinguished producer-in-residence.
“Leave No Trace” began when Reisman and producing partner Anne Harrison optioned “My Abandonment” prior to publication. Peter Rock’s 2010 novel was inspired by a newspaper article in The Oregonian.
“It was about a man and his daughter living in a nature preserve in Portland for many years who were discovered by the authorities,” Reisman said.
“You cannot live in a park like that. They were examined by social services, brought to a farm and then disappeared. They were never heard from again.
“With the book, we thought the father-daughter bond was so strong. And the idea of acceptance and the way people choose to live is something Debra (Granik) is concerned with.”
“Leave No Trace” marks co-writer-director Granik’s first film since 2010’s “Winter’s Bone,” which garnered Jennifer Lawrence her first Academy Award nomination for best actress.
Foster’s character, Will, is a veteran who lives off the grid with his 13-yearold daughter, Tom (New Zealand’s Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie). Without specific references to war, loss or trauma, the audience comes to understand taciturn Will is coping with PTSD.
“Debra and Ben spent a lot of time discussing his character but didn’t feel it was necessary to explain. We discover as we go along.”
One scene offers clues to his history. “When his daughter is in the farm cabin and Will has gone to get provisions, she finds an article about a squad where its members had committed suicide.
“At an L.A. screening, a teary-eyed a woman said, ‘My brother came back and killed himself. If I had seen this maybe I would have understood perhaps better.’ ”
“Leave No Trace” sees Tom enchanted by “civilization.” She meets the boy on the farm next door whose pet is a huge rabbit. He invites her to a rabbithandling workshop.
How do you wrangle a dozen 20-pound bunnies to sit quietly?
“That was a real 4-H club and those kids,” Reisman revealed, “those are their rabbits.”