Contemporary Film Review of Toe to Toe

1. Personal Issues: In Toe to Toe, the element that struck me the most was the affect of Jesse’s lack of a mother figure. I responded with emotion toward this element because I come from a large, closely-kinit family, for which I feel a great deal of affection and pride. I believe that the general audience of this film will connect with this element, as many people hold their family or their closest friends, whom they often refer to as family, as the driving forces in their lives, and they would sympathize for Jesse as well.
2. Technique: I feel that this film was strong in its integration of sound effects, mood-setting music, interesting and plot-relevant dialogue, and detailed editing. Its greatest strength, in my opinion, was the camera work, as unique camera angles were incorporated. An example of this is the scene in which the camera pulls away from over Tosha as she lies in the grass after being beaten up by a neighborhood bully. This presented a view of her despair that the naked eye could not provide.
3. Acting: The principle roles of this film were Jesse and Tosha. I feel that the roles of these individuals were generally type-cast, as they Jesse was cast to represent a White, teenaged girl and Tosha was cast to represent a Black, teenaged girl. However, this was not the only aspect that made their characters believable, as both actors did a wonderful job of acting.
4. Plot: In Toe to Toe, two teenage girls from different worlds battle social pressures, adversity, and the anxiety of what their futures will bring. I feel that this plot is very unique, as it voices the truth behind tragic teenage struggles, rather than the happy-go-lucky lifestyles often portrayed through young-adult characters.
5. Themes: The main theme in this film surrounds the pressure of growing up. Although the film presents the affects of social pressures and cultural expectations upon teenagers, a deeper message provided by the film is that our reactions to the situations in our lives define us and lead to great consequences.
6. Genre: Toe to Toe fits with the genre of drama, as this film presents deeply emotional and controversial topics. I believe that this is a popular genre because it presents stories with which audience members can empathize. Further, dramas appeal to viewers’ emotions with a human-interest spin to a story.
7. Representation: This film presents a significant difference between poverty and wealth, as Jesse is provided a stable, comfortable surrounding environment while Tosha is portrayed to live in a low-income community, where her mother struggles to pay the household bills. Through this depiction of poverty, the film also portrays the Black lifestyle as one filled with adversity and struggle. Additionally, the film portrays the White lifestyle as one of comfort and instant gratification.
8. Ideology: By presenting the concepts of racial inequality in schools, this film challenges the institution of American education. Additionally, this film confirms that the life of a teenager is a pivotal period in an individual’s development, which often presents a great amount of pressure upon teenagers. Finally, Toe to Toe challenges American parenthood by presenting Jesse’s mother as a non-existent figure in her life.