Movie Review: East of Wall

 

Michael's Movie Grade: B+

A very emotionally effective drama.

The reason this movie works so well is because it very emotionally honest and has a great understanding of its main characters. The authenticity comes from the fact that these characters are real people who are played by themselves. Director/writer Kate Beecroft spent three years in South Dakota with the Zimiga family, where she got to know Tabatha Zimiga and her teenage daughter Porshia Zimiga. Though the movie itself is a fictional story, it borrows many elements from the lives of the real people who inspired it. This film about the two living on a horse ranch which is also the home to other teenagers who either have families that either can't financially support them or want to take the time to raise them. Meanwhile the mom has financial trouble with her ranch and there is a great deal of friction between mother and daughter when Porshia's father dies. What is most remarkable about this movie is the main performances from the real-life Tabitha and Porshia. Despite not being professional actors, these two give top-notch performances that always feel real, honest and completely believable. Perhaps because of their true connection to the story, this allows them to access these emotions in such a way that actors playing the role couldn't have done as well. With this in mind nearly every emotional moment involving either of these characters is incredibly emotional effective. One scene towards the end had me tear up in a way I didn't expect to at all. Though the story goes through many familiar beats, the execution makes it, so these familiar beats still hit very hard. 

This movie's main flaw though lies in the supporting characters. As completely real and complex as the mother and daughter are, the other characters are rather bland and forgettable. Many of them simply feel like plot devices instead of actual characters. When it comes the group of teenagers living with our main characters, they have little in the way of distinguishable personalities. Because of this these characters become essentially interchangeable, and it is hard to even remember their names.   

Despite any flaws though, this is a drama that truly packs an emotional punch.