A genuine matrilineal bond anchors “East of Wall,” a naturalistic drama set on a South Dakota ranch where a group of teenagers tame and train horses to be resold at auction.
This is where Tabatha (Tabatha Zimiga), a horse whisperer with a steely expression and the mouth of a sailor, comes in. Alongside the teens, Tabatha lives on the property with her hard-bitten mother, Tracey (Jennifer Ehle), and her fast-riding daughter, Porshia (Porshia Zimiga, who is her daughter in real-life).
In her first feature, the writer-director Kate Beecroft gathers the right pieces for an authentic regional-realist film, based on Tabatha’s life on the ranch. Beecroft and her cinematographer, Austin Shelton, met Tabatha and Porshia while cruising around South Dakota in search of inspiration, and the filmmakers pair shots of the Badlands’ rolling topography with hard truths about the struggles underpinning their characters’ lives. Those truths shine in one standout scene around a campfire that finds Tracey’s buddies sharing stories of trauma and regret.
The movie runs into trouble when it shifts from observational to dramatic, especially in a flimsy second act that centers on a contrivance: a wealthy Texan (Scoot McNairy) bids to buy Tabatha’s ranch. It’s an offer she can refuse, and clearly should. But narrative beats aren’t what make “East of Wall” worth watching. That would be the people — particularly Porshia and her jubilant pals, whose skills in the saddle leave a lasting impression.
East of Wall
Rated R for language. Running time: 1 hour 37 minutes. In theaters.
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