Toe to Toe

Emily Abt’s emotionally powerful feature film, Toe to Toe, tells the story of a love/hate relationship between lacrosse mates Tosha and Jesse, two senior girls at a competitive Washington, D.C., prep school. Tosha is a fiercely determined African American scholarship student from Anacostia, one of Washington's poorest areas, while Jesse is a privileged, but troubled, white girl from Bethesda, who deals with promiscuous tendencies that pull her toward self-destruction. The two forge a close and genuine friendship on the field, but that bond is tested when the obstacles presented by societal circumstances threaten to tear them apart.Abt draws penetrating performances from bright, young talents Louisa Krause (Jesse) and Sonequa Martin (Tosha). Together they craft a complex story rich with nuance and authenticity, avoiding predictability and challenging tired racial narratives. Inspired by the disturbing fact that interracial friendships end at age 14 for 87 percent of American teenagers, Toe to Toe is a powerful reminder of the transforming power of honesty and the way that those who test us often make us better.
CAST
Louisa Krause, Sonequa Martin, Silvestre Rasuk, Leslie Uggams, Gaius Charles, Ally Walker

Emily Abt - Emily Abt made her first film, Take It from Me, at 22, inspired by her work as a New York City caseworker. The documentary aired on PBS's P.O.V. series in 2001. Since then Abt earned her MFA in film directing from Columbia University, was awarded a Fulbright grant to create her thesis film, and completed her second documentary feature, All of Us, which recently aired on the Showtime Network to commemorate World AIDs Day. Abt is also founder and president of Pureland Pictures, Inc., which produces online campaigns, short documentaries, and independent features.

Screenings:

Fri. Jan 16 3:15 p.m. - TOETO16CA Eccles Theatre, Park City
Sat. Jan 17 9:30 p.m. - TOETO17DN Redstone Cinemas, Kimball Junction
Sun. Jan 18 2:15 p.m. - TOETO18RA Racquet Club, Park City
Tue. Jan 20 9:45 p.m. - TOETO20BN Broadway Centre Cinemas V, SLC
Wed. Jan 21 5:30 p.m. - TOETO21PE Prospector Square Theatre, Park City
Fri. Jan 23 11:30 p.m. - TOETO23LL Library Center Theatre, Park City