East of Wall follows Tabatha, a young and rebellious horse trainer with tattoos, as she navigates life after the death of her husband. Struggling with financial insecurity and unresolved grief, she opens her broken-down ranch in the Badlands to provide a safe haven for a group of wayward teenagers. The film offers a poignant exploration of healing, resilience, and found family amidst challenging circumstances. Trivia: 1) The director chose to shoot on location in the Badlands to authentically capture the rugged and desolate beauty central to the story's atmosphere. 2) The lead actress performed most of her own horseback riding stunts, adding realism and depth to her character's expertise. 3) The film's soundtrack features original compositions inspired by Native American musical themes, reflecting the cultural backdrop of the region.
Critics' Reviews
90
Director Kate Beecroft's Sundance darling “East of Wall” is a stunning portrait of the American West. The film follows Tabatha Zimiga, who plays a version of herself. She’s a stern, reserved rancher and horse trainer who cares for her daughter Porshia and a gaggle of other teens who have nowhere else to go. They help her care for and sell the horses, coming of age out near the Badlands. Tabatha’s knowledge of horses is “witchy” and unmatched in the community around her, and Porshia is a promising rodeo rider, winning awards back-to-back. But despite each of their displays of expertise, there’s always a melancholy tone that underlines their success. Zimiga’s austere presence, framed by black-lined eyes and a shaved side, is both fitting to her frame of mind while being misleading to the tenderness she contains beneath the veil. Porshia, with a matching haircut that echoes an equestrian mane, is not simply an angsty teen, but an angry one. We come to find that the hardened facades of mother and daughter are a result of unaddressed pain.
Full Cast of East of Wall
Jennifer Ehle
Tracey Zimiga
