East of Wall

East of Wall
Starring Tabatha Zimiga, Porchia Zimiga, Scoot McNairy, Jennifer Ehle
Directed by Kate Beecroft

Back in 2020, a little film called "Nomadland" emerged, and the result was numerous Oscar wins including Best Actress for Frances McDormand, Best Picture, and Best Director for Chloe Zhao. The movie centered on a group of real-life nomads who live in their vans and travel the west, and apart from McDormand and one other, all the other actors in the film were real-life nomads playing fictionalized versions of themselves. Zhao filmed the movie with pinpoint precision, giving the viewers a lavish, unadulterated look at the modern wild west, and the visuals themselves were stunning, as was the performances. "East of Wall" feels like a Chloe Zhao film, but it's by first-time director Kate Beecroft, and features two actual actors - all the others are real-life horse trainers playing fictionalized versions of themselves. While not on-par with "Nomadland," "East of Wall" has its own charm that's undeniable, even if you don't notice it while watching it.

In the Badlands of South Dakota, Tabatha Zimiga (Tabatha Zimiga) owns a three-thousand acre ranch and trains horses with her daughter Porshia (Porshia Zimiga), her mother Tracey (Jennifer Ehle), their longtime ranchhand Clay (Clay Pateneaude), and numerous other children Tabatha has taken in whose parents are either deceased, in prison, or deadbeat. Times are tough at the ranch as the horses aren't selling for what they're worth, and Texas tycoon Roy Waters (Scoot McNairy) arrives with a golden ticket - he'll purchase Tabatha's land and she and her family can still live there as if nothing different happened, but they'd be working for him. Torn between gaining enough income to provide for herself and her family and keeping the land that's been gifted to them after her husband's death, Tabatha faces an insurmountable decision that doesn't come easy.

Scoot McNairy and Jennifer Ehle are the only actors in "East of Wall," as all the others are actual people playing themselves in a fictionalized pseudo-biographical manner. It comes as a surprise because everyone is excellent in their roles, especially Tabatha, who has a rich future in films if she chooses that path. She's a true salt-of-the-earth woman who takes no gruff from anyone, and who's imposing figure intimidates even the men around her. She is one of the best horse whisperers out there, and in a predominately male-domianted arena, more than holds her own - and so does her equally fierce, determined daughter Porshia. 

The movie's narrative centers around their fledgling home, and the apparent salvation through Roy Waters, and to that end thankfully the movie doesn't turn to melodrama. Scoot McNairy's Roy isn't your mustache-twirling villain bent on kicking out the family from under them, but rather is a well-rounded character of his own dealing with his own demons, and who appears to really want the best for Tabatha and company. It's refreshing to see this turn in an otherwise predictable villain arc, and makes Tabatha's decision all the more difficult because she knows he's not out for malicious intent.

Yet the heart of the movie lies with Tabatha, Porshia, and the women around them. There's a particularly moving scene where the women celebrate Tabatha's mother's birthday (played excellently by Jennifer Ehle, who channels her inner McDormand) and the women talk about past abuses they suffered at the hands of the men in their lives. This doesn't feel forced, but comes naturally, and makes me wonder how much of those stories are actually true since these people are real-life people. Tabatha and Porshia's turbulent relationship also is a focus of the movie, as Porshia is equally hard-nosed like her mother, and both women are still dealing with the death of the patriarch of the family in vastly different ways.

Director of Photography Austin Shelton showcases the Badlands of South Dakota in all its visual wonder, with sweeping visuals of the beautiful, nearly untouched land around them, but also centers in on the poverty affecting the area with ripped-apart trailers and vacant cars littering the deserted landscape. Seeing Porshia and Tabatha riding their horses through such terrain is a thing of visual wonder, and their fame has escalated due to using TikTok to sell their horses and showcase their talents. It's one of those subtle, small films that don't seem to have much of a plot or story, but afterward it lingers in your mind and you reminisce about how great this small film can be.

The Score: A