Tabatha lives on her ranch in the heart of the Badlands, the vast plains of South Dakota. Despite financial difficulties, she welcomes rebellious teenagers and shares her passion for horses with them, offering them more than just a home. Together, they train the horses, teaching them the magic and grace of rodeo. She describes it as “reinventing the American West.” Things get tumultuous when a rancher from a neighboring county offers to buy Tabatha’s ranch.

The film’s synopsis is captivating to begin with, accompanied by beautiful shots of America’s vast, open landscapes. What makes it even more compelling is how close it is to reality: five of the actors, including the main characters, play themselves on their very own horse ranch.

Director Kate Beecroft, perhaps known for „As Long as You Are Mine“ or „6 Underground“, found the story by accident. She and Austin Shelton, a friend and director of photography, were on a road trip in a van, searching for an inspiring subject. After taking a wrong turn in South Dakota, they met a woman who told them about Tabatha Zimiga and invited them to visit her ranch. They went – and what followed was a three-year-long period of research and immersion.

Beecroft lived with the family, observing their daily lives and teaching them how to act. Despite some performance experience through rodeo riding, they had no formal acting background, yet deliver remarkably convincing performances in the film. Beecroft also brought in professional actors alongside non-professionals, creating a unique dynamic on set that even led to improvised scenes.

The result is a magical film, suspended somewhere between reality and fiction, portraying the quiet resilience of women by deeply intertwining their lives with animals and nature.

The New West (East of Wall) will be released in German cinemas on 4 June 2026.