East of Wall

Greetings again from the darkness. Kate Beecroft's first feature film as writer-director can be accurately described as a biographical-drama, yet we can't help but wonder if a straight documentary could have been equally interesting. In no way is that meant as a criticism of the film, it's just that most of the cast (with only a couple of exceptions) is made up of non-actors playing versions of their real-life selves ... and each one of them holds our attention, leaving us wanting to know even more.

Tabatha Zimiga is a tough-looking mom who runs a 3000 acre horse farm near the Badlands of South Dakota. She's a horse trainer and trader, and is known as a 'horse whisperer' (her abilities are so renowned, some even jokingly refer to her as a witch). The auction prices on her horses have dropped recently, adding stress to Tabatha's existence. Not only did her husband die, leaving her to run the farm, but she's also the one who welcomes local kids to live at her place when things don't go well at their own home. As noted by the signs of blight in the area, poverty is commonplace, and some folks can't handle the added burden of kids. In fact, Tabatha currently has seven teenagers and her own three-year-old son to care for - so the reduced price for horses puts many in peril.

One of the teenagers is Tabatha's fourteen-year-old daughter, Porshia, a champion rider who markets the horses on TikTok ... while also going through the moods of a teenager who no longer has her dad. Also on the farm are Tabatha's mother Tracey (played by the always excellent Jennifer Ehle, SAINT MAUD, 2019) and Tabatha's boyfriend Clay. Tracey seems best suited to smart-aleck remarks as she brews her own moonshine. Tabatha calmly and firmly runs the show, knowing full well how dependent the kids are on her.

After one of the auctions, Roy Waters (Scoot McNairy, A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, 2024), a cocky rancher from Fort Worth, Texas makes an offer to Tabatha. He will buy the ranch and allow her and the kids to continue living and working there to build the horse trading business. He recognizes the value in having a horse whisperer of Tabatha's caliber. One can imagine how angry this makes Porshia, as it's the only home she's ever known, and the farm carries all memories of her late father. It's here where the film slips a bit, as the interaction between Tabatha, Porshia, and Roy seems a bit clunky, leaving us to fill in a few too many gaps.

Cinematographer Austin Shelton does a terrific job at capturing the unique terrain of the area, as well as the near chaos of the energetic kids. Periodically, the music is a bit too strong for the scene, but there is something true and honest here as we ask ourselves, "what makes a family?" It certainly seems like Tabatha knows.

The film opens on August 15, 2025.

This movie has a lot going on -- land, family; feminism; horse whispering; class commentary; grieving; abusive relationships and coming of age.

..all jumbled into utter realism.

It takes some patience to watch because the the plot arc gets almost lost after the halfway mark. There are so many characters (who kind of look alike) I kept getting confused. Most of the characters are inarticulate.

But this just adds to the realism. (It very much reminded my of my working class, rural youth) I was emotionally touched and satisfied in the end.

I was expecting the director to take the movie to some horrific, morally outrageous plot turn and she does but in a very clever way that isn't cheap shock.

It reminds me of those "urban realistic" films of the 70s but set in modern South Dakota rather than New York. The cast seem like real people, not actors, even though the movie isn't shot like a documentary.

These days, a number of producers are trying to make "the modern western" and this one succeeds.

If you can tolerate "realistic messiness" -- this movie is very rewarding.

Five years ago director Kate Beecroft was driving around the country with her DP in search of a good story to film, "trying to find faces, stories, maybe something we could use for a short film or b-roll for a music video." She did not dream she would find a fascinating character in a setting where she would spend three years creating her first feature film. And what a film it is, a docu-drama based on the real lives of Tabatha Zamiga and her daughter Porshia. Tabatha is a young, punk widow, raising her children in her ranch in South Dakota, along with several other teens who, for one reason or another, were abandoned by their parents. Tabatha is a master horse trainer and Porshia is a gifted rider. Beecroft spent time teaching them to act in such a way that the authenticity of their fascinating story could come through on film. The compelling hybrid setting brings to mind Nomadland, even more authentic, perhaps, because these amateurs are reliving their own story. I was mesmerized and believe this film deserves an academy nomination. The audience at Sundance 2025 seems to agree. The film received their award at the festival.

We saw "East of Wall" last night in a "Screen Unseen" showing. Wasn't sure what I was watching for the first 5 minutes or so but after that I was pulled into the lives of these characters. Fantastic script and direction by Kate Beecroft. And, the acting, well it almost seemed like they were just being themselves! (Hint: watch the acting credits!) And my lord, the horsemanship... these young women can RIDE!!!

Still grieving the loss of her husband, Tabatha is struggling to keep her ranch afloat while managing her children and the other children she has opened her home to. The tables turn when an outsider offers her a way out, forcing her to re-evaluate her outlook and priorities.

An intriguing movie with potential and beautiful horses. There is one main story, with many different tangents, but none of them are given much detail or background. Most of the details of the stories are inferred based on the minimal dialogue. The one hour and thirty-seven minute runtime feels longer due to the slow pace of the movie and the dialogue being broken up by beautiful scenic shots and horse riding. It has the potential to be worth a stream.