Toe to Toe
Introduction
Toe to Toe tells the story of the friendship and rivalry between lacrosse teammates Tosha and Jesse, two senior girls at a competitive Washington, D.C. prep school. The two forge a close bond on the lacrosse field, but their friendship unravels as they navigate through gender, sexuality, race and class-related obstacles.
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Synopsis
Toe to Toe tells the story of the friendship and rivalry between lacrosse mates Tosha and Jesse, two senior girls at a competitive Washington, D.C. prep school. Tosha (played by Sonequa Martin-Green of “Star Trek: Discovery" and "The Walking Dead") is a scholarship student from one of Washington's poorest neighborhoods. Jesse (played by Louisa Krause of "The Girlfriend Experience") is a rebellious, troubled girl from the ritzy suburbs of Maryland. The two forge a close and genuine bond on the lacrosse field but their friendship unravels as they navigate through gender, sexuality, race and class related obstacles. When Jesse and Tosha discover they've both been dating the same boy, their conflict becomes explosive. Toe to Toe is a powerful reminder that those who test us often make us better. Premiered in Dramatic Competition at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, distributed by Strand Releasing.
Reviews
Awards and Screenings
Director Commentary
Features and Languages
Film Features
- Closed Captioning
- Director's Commentary
- DVD Extras
- Resources for Educators
Promotional Material
Promotional Stills
Toe to Toe reflects my intense interest in race relations and was inspired by the disturbing fact that interracial friendships end at age 14 for 87% of Americans. This reality is in stark contrast to the way Hollywood usually portrays our society as a magical melting pot where people easily integrate and chuckle over race jokes without any fallout. What I love about Jesse and Tosha’s relationship is that it deals with the messy, subtle forms of racial tension that are usually overlooked by mainstream media. These girls don’t always say the polite thing and they don’t shy away from conflict with each other. There’s beauty in that authenticity and it leads these two girls to a place where they’re willing to sacrifice a great deal for each other.