East of Wall

Tropic Sprockets by Ian Brockway

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In a directorial debut, Kate Beecroft delivers the affecting “East of Wall” based on the experiences of real life horse trainer and rancher, Tabatha Zimiga and her daughter Porshia. Minimalist in approach yet heartfelt and impactful, this film is an authentic slice of life — living on a ranch in South Dakota.

Tabatha Zimiga (playing herself) is a single mom with a toddler son, a teenage daughter and numerous other kids that she protects as a kind of guardian. The ranch is struggling. To make ends meet, Tabatha auctions horses during shows shown on Tik Tok.

Tabatha is haunted by the death of her husband by his own hand, and by her impulsive and impatient daughter Porshia (also playing a version of herself) who is an excellent rider.

Tabatha is hemmed in on every side from day to day life, financial pressure and relationship issues. She seldom finds respite. Her one release, her singular relaxation, are her horses and her ranch, combined as one.

Beecroft’s direction is engaging and emotive. The riding scenes are rapid, lightning quick and charged with adrenaline. Riding is a way of life, yet it almost feels like a contact sport as well.

In brisk potent scenes, Kate Beecroft’s direction is reminiscent of the minute detail and realism of Kelly Reichardt (Certain Women) and John Sayles (Return of the Secaucus 7).

While the rural Western setting may be a challenge for city folk, Beecroft keeps the momentum going. These people are existential whisperers, hardbitten yet content to ride within eccentric orbits. Tabatha is an equine pirate, mercurial and pensive yet free to whoop with her tribe.

Even though most of the drama is invariably fixed in the rural West, Tim Cook’s silver iPhones become intrusive and glittering mushrooms forever sprouting between Zimiga Family thumbs, dispassionately recording each event, dialogue or riding pose.

Write Ian at ianfree11@yahoo.com