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Ben Foster Goes Off the Grid in ‘Leave No Trace’ at the Summer KCET Cinema Series on June 12

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Q&A immediately following with actress Dale Dickey, cinematographer Michael McDonough and producer Linda Reisman

Veteran and father Will (Ben Foster) has carved out a reclusive life in a state park in Oregon with his young daughter Tom (Thomasin McKenzie). When their idyllic existence is shattered due to a small mistake, both are put into social services. After clashing with their new surroundings, Will and Tom set off on a harrowing journey back to their wild homeland. Directed by Academy Award-nominated writer/ director Debra Granik (“Winter’s Bone,” “Stray Dog”), “Leave No Trace” is based on the novel "My Abandonment" by Peter Rock.

In the drama, Will sells his VA-prescribed anti-depressants and anti-psychotics to buy groceries while home-schooling his daughter in their tented shelter in the woods. “His trauma … the way that I understood it…could be triggered by many things," says Foster. Will has a simple mantra: “Is it a want or is it a need?” The film does a deep dive into isolationist themes and explores a poignant father-daughter relationship with a performance from newcomer Thomasin McKenzie that will undoubtedly draw comparisons to a young Jennifer Lawrence in “Winter’s Bone.”

“Leave No Trace” will be released on June 29 by Bleecker Street. The film premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. Actress Dale Dickey, cinematographer Michael McDonough and producer Linda Reisman will be in attendance for a Q&A session immediately following the screening with host Pete Hammond who can also be seen in KCETMust See Movies.

The summer season of the KCET Cinema Series is generously sponsored by the James and Paula Coburn Foundation as well as Deadline.com. The season began on June 5th and runs through July 31st. Season passes are available online via Eventbrite and individual admissions are available at the door for $25 each.

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