By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats | 4.3 cats
Director: Kate Beecroft
Starring: Jennifer Ehle | Jesse Thorson | Porshia Zimiga | Scoot McNairy | Tabatha Zimiga
Year: 2025
Running time: 99
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21349688/fullcredits/
Vicki says: “Although considered a narrative, EAST OF WALL has a hybrid feel – filmed a bit like a documentary with the main characters playing themselves with Tabitha, a young recently widowed tattooed horse trainer, struggles with her financial situation. This is Kate Beecroft’s first feature and her direction of this docudrama does succeed for the most part. She is helped by the strong, emotional performances of the two non actor leads. And her ensemble is helped by two known actors: Jennifer Ehle plays Tabitha’s mother with just the right amount of empathy and comedy; Scoot McNairy plays a wealthy rancher looking to buy the ranch. McNairy’s character has some secrets and ulterior motives in his offer and McNairy does an excellent job. The story takes places in Montana which lends itself to some magnificent cinematography and gives the film a sense of place. The story and pacing are not as tight as they could be but that doesn’t take any from the film’s true grit. 3.5 cats”
Michael says: “Kate Beecroft’s debut feature, EAST OF WALL is one of those films where you can’t really tell if it’s a fictional narrative based on reality, or a documentary re-enactment with a couple of professional actors and a screenplay thrown in to give it some shape. It tackles a bunch of themes, grief, trauma life on the socioeconomic margins, being a woman in a man’s world (still) and family dynamics, tosses in some beautifully shot and integrated metaphors between the characters (mostly women) and the wild horses they work with, to create something truly beautiful.
“The South Dakota ranch run by Tabatha Zimiga (playing a version of herself) provides a haven for kids whose families have failed them as has the government. Tabatha is still reeling from the sudden death of her husband a year ago, and three kids, one, the teenaged Porsha (played by Tabatha’s real daughter with the same name), just as traumatized as she is. One of the film’s professional actors, Scoot McNairy, plays a wealth Texas rancher who comes in with an offer to buy the 30,000 acre ranch from Tabatha, but let them continue to live and work it just the same. The other is Tabatha’s mom, played by Jennifer Ehle, in one of the standout performances in the film. The other, and makes the whole thing work, is Tabatha herself. Like the badlands where the story is set, there is beauty, harshness, and the threat of it all crumbling away, and Tabatha brings that to her debut on the big screen.
“Cinematographer Austin Shelton, shooting his first feature capturtes some visual poetry, both from the landscape, the photography of the horses, or the long gorgeous shots of Tabatha lost in thought. Reminiscent for me of NATIONAL ANTHEM, but without the undercurrent of sex and sexual relationships, which this film avoided. 4 1/2 cats”
Julie says: “I loved this film! Michael’s review is spot on. In addition to Tabby, Porsha (her real/film daughter) was excellent!). I loved the wild raw energy in this and the cinematography and editing are outstanding. The music and the way it’s edited and interwoven seamlessly into the film is also of note. Agreed that Jennifer Ehle who played Tabby’s Mom was a standout performance. Similar to Amy Madigan’s unforgettable performance as the grandmother/mother in Rebuilding, but a totally different sort of grandmother/mother for sure!”The beautiful landscapes, excellent cinematography, editing, music and their interactions with the wild horses is a sight to behold. On top of all of that watching Tabatha and her daughter and ‘girls’ operate in ‘a man’s world still’ is what really makes this film meaningful and memorable. It’s a beautiful film!
“I might have to go a full 5 cats on this one. No less than 4.85.”