Critic Reviews

What Beecroft achieves exists in its own unique realm. It reminds us that no matter who you are, how isolated your world may seem, or how unworthy of being seen you may feel, your life is still deserving of the cinematic treatment.

East of Wall is Beecroft’s first feature, and I eagerly await her second — just please don’t let it be a Marvel movie. She captures so many little moments perfectly and just needs to trust herself to let the big moments take care of themselves.

It’s a generous production, one that lovingly offers meaningful moments to every member of the cast, even the actors with only one scene.

Director Kate Beecroft’s Sundance darling “East of Wall” is a stunning portrait of the American West.

East of Wall thrives in the details, with Beecroft’s gritty, intimate direction and bold casting making it feel adjacent to a documentary.

The place Beecroft stumbled upon is fueled by girl power, and the story she and her collaborators have created is wise and messy, keenly aware of the dark places at the margins as it burns bright with life.

As a first-time feature filmmaker, Beecroft’s storytelling technique could stand greater development, but her sense of place and mood is spot-on. Her film will definitely make you want to scrape the mud off your boots before you leave the theatre.

For those who love stories about found families, East of Wall is essential viewing.

East of Wall is a promising start for a burgeoning filmmaker and a worthy portrait of an insular world that many of us will never know.

Despite its flaws, East of Wall is ultimately an incredibly gripping narrative.