Leave No Trace 2022

Will, a battle-hardened veteran grappling with the profound effects of PTSD, has chosen a life of seclusion in the lush, old-growth canopy of Forest Park in Portland, Oregon. Residing with his teenage daughter, Tom, they thrive in their isolated existence, honing their forest survival skills while only venturing into town sporadically for essential supplies and food. In a bid to survive, Will resorts to selling his VA-prescribed benzodiazepines to another veteran living on the streets.

The couple’s precarious way of life is uprooted when a jogger inadvertently spots Tom in the woods, leading to their arrest by park rangers and subsequent detention by social services. In the assessment that follows, it becomes evident that Tom, despite lacking formal education, is exceptionally bright and exceeds expectations for her age group. They are eventually placed in a quaint house on a Christmas tree farm in rural Oregon, with the arrangement that Will would assist with the farm’s operations. Hesitant about this new chapter, Will begrudgingly begins his work of packaging trees, yet feels disturbed by the incessant sound of helicopters transporting them.

As Tom acclimates, she befriends a local boy who is constructing his own tiny house and is introduced to the 4-H youth club. However, social services maintain their oversight, demanding continuous compliance with paperwork.

A pivotal moment arises when Will, abruptly deciding to leave, is followed by a reluctant Tom. The duo returns to their camp in Forest Park only to find their temporary home devastated. They attempt to seek refuge in a railroad boxcar but ultimately manage to hitch a ride with a truck driver who drops them off in the remote forests of Washington state. Facing the biting cold and enveloping darkness, they must construct an improvised survival shelter for the night. On the following day, fortune seems to smile upon them when they discover an abandoned cabin to reside in. Yet fate takes a grim turn when Will sets out to procure food but fails to return. Bewildered and anxious, Tom discovers him at the base of a ravine, unconscious and nursing a grave foot injury.

Desperate for help, she reaches out to a group of local quadbikers who swiftly transport them to a nearby mobile home community. Despite the urgency of the situation, Tom staunchly refuses to allow Will to be taken to a hospital. In an act of community solidarity, Dale, a compassionate local woman, connects with a friend who is a former Army medic, ensuring Will receives treatment for his injury.

As Will’s condition stabilizes, the duo is accommodated in an empty trailer within the community. The medic, also a veteran suffering from PTSD, lends his service dog to accompany Will during his moments of distress, helping him confront haunting memories. Meanwhile, a local resident introduces Tom to the intricacies of beekeeping, providing her with a sense of purpose and joy in their new environment.

Tom grows fond of their temporary home, secretly attempting to negotiate a rental agreement with Dale, all while keeping Will in the dark. However, Will’s protective instincts kick in, and he insists that they must leave the community behind. A heated confrontation ensues where Tom passionately defends her stance, asserting, “the same thing that’s wrong with you isn’t wrong with me.” Ultimately, they share a heartfelt embrace—Tom articulating, “I know you would stay if you could”—before they part ways, tears marking their separation.

In a poignant gesture of love and resilience, Tom returns to the trailer community while Will retreats back to the solace of the wilderness. Later, in a heartfelt effort to support her father, Tom hangs a food package in the forest, a silent message of hope for Will to discover.