The Tonto Woman

When traveller "Vega" (Francesco Quinn) happens upon a remote ranch, he espies the bathing "Sarah" (Charlotte Asprey) and so heads on in to water his horse. That doesn't prove to be an euphemism as he isn't some prurient creep, but actually turns out to be quite a decent individual who chats with the woman and discovers that not only has she had quite a turbulent past but that she is being kept a virtual prisoner by her ashamed husband (Richard Brake). Their conversations gradually start to empower her a little, and when the two eventually head into town for lunch, he is introduced to an husband who is less than impressed with "Vega" having what looks like designs on his wife. Perhaps it is time for an epiphany for that man, as well as being quite a perilous one for a visitor who appears to have earned the enmity of some gun-totin' townsfolk. This is a really quite good looking short feature with shades of Sergio Leone and the "The Searchers" (1956) running through it - but it's too short. We don't really have time to develop the characters sufficiently nor to immerse ourselves in a plot that has plenty of complexities to it, and to be honest there is more here to intrigue us than in many a full-length film - especially with the last few scenes. It's well worth a watch.