Jeri Jacquin
Coming to theatres this Friday from writer/director Kate Beecroft and Sony Pictures Classics is the story of the wide-open plains and a family EAST OF WALL.
Tabby (Tabatha Zimiga) has a 3,000-acre horse ranch in the Badlands of South Dakota and is running it since the death of John Quint. Keeping busy, she is surrounded by kids Brynn (Brynn Darling), Porshia (Porshia Zimiga) and 3-year-old Stetson (Stetson Neumann) along with kids Jesse (Jesse Thorson), Skylar (Wyatt Mansfield), Leanne (Leanne Shumpert) and Ryder (Chancey Witt) who live there as well. The days are spent training horses so that Tabby can earn money to take care of everything. The family heads toward the horse auction and rodeo as Brynn and Portia do their best to show off the well-trained horses.
Porshia and mom Tabby seem to be at odds and find themselves being angry and sad without explaining themselves. It is the slightly offbeat grandmother Tracey (Jennifer Ehle) who knows what to say to make things right for the young girl. Another day at the auction and a mysterious buyer spends a large sum on a horse ridden by Portia. Tabby’s trainer Clay (Clay Pateneaude) notices that the buyer has an expensive trailer and truck but is happy about the money coming in. Roy Waters (Scoot McNairy) meets Tabby to come to the ranch and see more horses.
He makes Tabby an offer after seeing the potential of the ranch and those working on it feeling there is something special to be had. Tabby doesn’t want to lose the land nor the family that has come to mean everything to her. Trying to hold on under all the stress, she knows that the past and what is happening right now are about to collide and each person in the family is feeling it and it runs deep. The land is in their soul but can it be sold at a price?
Zimiga as Tabby is a woman who looks tough on the outside with tattoos, piercings and shaved head. Dealing with the death of a loved one and trying to hang on to those who rely on her, there are things deeply hidden that she can’t let anyone know about. All of these make for a powerful character and watching Zimiga bring the character to fruition is an incredible journey in itself. I was completely drawn into not what she said, but what she didn’t say and that makes for a stunning portrayal.
Porshia Zimiga as Porshia is a young woman who is dealing with her own struggles. Finding release and escape in horse riding, everyone around notices that she is an exceptional horsewoman. At home, it is clear that mother and daughter have unresolved issues and the tension builds daily and noticeable to everyone in the family. She is a very talented young actress to take on such a complex role. The only person that seems to understand her is grandmother Tracey played by Ehle. She recognizes Porshia’s reaction to things and it brings about a connection between the two. Ehle gets a chance to shed anything glamorous and becomes a moonshine making, no nonsense granny and I loved it.
McNairy as Roy is a man who sees potential in the ranch and mainly because it is something he doesn’t seem to be able to do. Knowing that coming together could do so much for Tabby and the kids, his reasonings for wanting it all are not the same reasons that Tabby wants to keep it. It is as if he tries to insert himself where he doesn’t actually fit. I quite enjoyed McNairy’s role even with its duality. Pateneaude as Clay has an emotional claim to the ranch past being a horse trainer. His attachment is strong and wants to be there for them all even if, at times, it can be equally stressful for him to watch.
Other cast include Traden Lockwood as Traden, Don Garnier as Gummer, Rene Mousseaux as Rene, Brett Fly Sr. as Brett, Ryan Caraway as Wes, Haley Strode as Laura, Lori Ann Reed as Lori, Amy Shedeed as Amy, Angela Heinze as Angela, Tracey Osmotherly as Janette and Janis Schell as Janis.
Sony Pictures Classics brings television, digital content, new entertainment services, independent films and technologies to viewers. Such films as GREED, THE BURNT ORANGE HERESY, THE CLIMB, CHARM CITY KINGS, I CARRY YOU WITH ME and THE FATHER are just a few of the current and upcoming releases. For more information on what Sony Pictures Classics has to offer please visit www.sonyclassics.com.
EAST OF WALL is such a mixture of emotions from start to finish. The story of mothers and daughters, of truths and misunderstandings, of miscommunication and straight forwardness, of wanting something unattainable and wanting simplicity, and of family even if you were not born into one. Each character has their own story to tell and each does exactly that, by finding their own way of expressing it on the ranch.
The cinematography is so wonderfully beautiful, simple and uncomplicated just as it needed to be to let the cast shine like wild horses. The vast land is actually another character in the story that writer/director Beecroft put to film and makes look effortless. Also, as a lover of horses, watching everyone embrace them so lovingly brought joy. The running time of an hour and a half leaves no second wasted.
EAST OF WALL won the Adrienne Shelley Excellence in Filmmaking Award at the 2025 Nantucket Film Festival for writer/director Beecroft. The film was also nominated for NEXT Innovator Award and winner of the Audience Award at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
In the end – welcome to the new west!
