August 14, 2025
FILM: EAST OF WALL
DIRECTED BY: KATE BEECROFT
STARRING: TABATHA ZIMIGA, SCOOT MCNAIRY, JENNIFER EHLE
RATING: 3 ½ out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
When we are first introduced to the setting in East of Wall, we see the beauty of horses, South Dakota, and the Badlands. This is soon followed by a much rawer landscape, the region where the characters of the film live in trailers and farms. The protagonist is played by Tabatha Zimiga, who is playing a version of herself, with her same name, in a first-time acting gig. It is a triumphant performance that deserves to be recognized by awarding bodies at the end of the year.
What is striking first is her physical appearance. She’s got long blonde hair which is shaved on one side. The style is curious until we see a few teens (also playing themselves) with a similar haircut. It turns out this is known as a “warrior buzz” and Tabatha is truly a warrior. She’s got tattoos and piercings too but possesses more of an inner strength than anything obvious in her externals. She is quietly reserved yet a powerful and motherly leader. Tabatha, who recently lost her husband, runs a 3,000-acre horse ranch. There are several teens, mostly girls, whom she teaches to ride to ultimately sell her many horses. Because this is a modern story, some of them are sold via TikTok. All the while Tabatha has to deal with the hectic noise of the teens, financial issues, a smoking mother who watches horror films, and a small child who, due to delayed speech, has not yet uttered a word.
It’s a complex world which at first seems scattered. It takes a chunk of opening scenes to gather all of the rich textures of this region. How all of the characters are related is perhaps purposely confusing. They drink, wrestle, and play in mud in order to counter what must be a sense of boredom in a world with few opportunities and little money. Then a rich dude named Roy Waters from the south arrives with interest in buying the property. It is here where the narrative takes its shape as we see what the world we’ve come to know might be up against.
This is a very impressive work from writer/director Kate Beecroft which won an Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. While she captures all we need to see to feel we are part of this community, it may be the writing and acting that stand out the most. The only actors who are not playing themselves are Jennifer Ehle as Tabatha’s mother and Scoot McNairy who plays Roy. They are both very good in their roles and add a lot of depth to their characters which could come across as one-dimensional in less skilled hands.
However, it is Tabatha Zimiga who impresses the most. In addition to her physical appearance she bares all of the internal weight of this version of herself. The character has experienced some significant trauma in her past which she must balance with her position as mother and teacher. She also bravely handles a key emotional scene near the end of the film in which Tabatha (the character) must breakdown and let out some of her deepest feelings while sitting with a group of other women also sharing their own difficult backgrounds. It’s a tense scene which is very well-directed and richly performed.
Beecroft also deserves high marks for her focus on the female characters throughout the film. They are far from traditional and demonstrate some impressive riding skills. This is also thanks to the decision to hire local people to essentially play themselves. As such, East of Wall depicts a part of society filled with characters we don’t typically see on screen. It’s a woman’s world and their stories need to be heard.
East of Wall opens in theaters today.
FILM: EAST OF WALL
DIRECTED BY: KATE BEECROFT
STARRING: TABATHA ZIMIGA, SCOOT MCNAIRY, JENNIFER EHLE
RATING: 3 ½ out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
When we are first introduced to the setting in East of Wall, we see the beauty of horses, South Dakota, and the Badlands. This is soon followed by a much rawer landscape, the region where the characters of the film live in trailers and farms. The protagonist is played by Tabatha Zimiga, who is playing a version of herself, with her same name, in a first-time acting gig. It is a triumphant performance that deserves to be recognized by awarding bodies at the end of the year.
What is striking first is her physical appearance. She’s got long blonde hair which is shaved on one side. The style is curious until we see a few teens (also playing themselves) with a similar haircut. It turns out this is known as a “warrior buzz” and Tabatha is truly a warrior. She’s got tattoos and piercings too but possesses more of an inner strength than anything obvious in her externals. She is quietly reserved yet a powerful and motherly leader. Tabatha, who recently lost her husband, runs a 3,000-acre horse ranch. There are several teens, mostly girls, whom she teaches to ride to ultimately sell her many horses. Because this is a modern story, some of them are sold via TikTok. All the while Tabatha has to deal with the hectic noise of the teens, financial issues, a smoking mother who watches horror films, and a small child who, due to delayed speech, has not yet uttered a word.
It’s a complex world which at first seems scattered. It takes a chunk of opening scenes to gather all of the rich textures of this region. How all of the characters are related is perhaps purposely confusing. They drink, wrestle, and play in mud in order to counter what must be a sense of boredom in a world with few opportunities and little money. Then a rich dude named Roy Waters from the south arrives with interest in buying the property. It is here where the narrative takes its shape as we see what the world we’ve come to know might be up against.
This is a very impressive work from writer/director Kate Beecroft which won an Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. While she captures all we need to see to feel we are part of this community, it may be the writing and acting that stand out the most. The only actors who are not playing themselves are Jennifer Ehle as Tabatha’s mother and Scoot McNairy who plays Roy. They are both very good in their roles and add a lot of depth to their characters which could come across as one-dimensional in less skilled hands.
However, it is Tabatha Zimiga who impresses the most. In addition to her physical appearance she bares all of the internal weight of this version of herself. The character has experienced some significant trauma in her past which she must balance with her position as mother and teacher. She also bravely handles a key emotional scene near the end of the film in which Tabatha (the character) must breakdown and let out some of her deepest feelings while sitting with a group of other women also sharing their own difficult backgrounds. It’s a tense scene which is very well-directed and richly performed.
Beecroft also deserves high marks for her focus on the female characters throughout the film. They are far from traditional and demonstrate some impressive riding skills. This is also thanks to the decision to hire local people to essentially play themselves. As such, East of Wall depicts a part of society filled with characters we don’t typically see on screen. It’s a woman’s world and their stories need to be heard.
East of Wall opens in theaters today.