Lucha: A Wrestling Tale

Taft High School in the South Bronx was the first school in the country to have metal detectors, and crack vials were routinely found in the cafeteria. But on a cold winter day, in that very same cafeteria, a much different scene played out. Tables were pushed to the side, worn wrestling mats were placed on the floor, a whistle blew and twenty girls in mismatched sweats and hand-me-down sneakers began running wind sprints -- thus kicking off the Taft High School Girl’s Wrestling season. This is the story of that team and their journey from the high hopes of inaugural season through the uncertainty of graduation. Marco Ricci’s empowering documentary is not just a film about wrestling -- but a film about breaking barriers as it portrays the stories of four pioneering young women who view wrestling as a way to transform their lives. Shot over the course of over two years, in a gritty verité style, the film weaves together practices, matches, and “at home” footage to cre ate an intimate portrait of four young women -- and a team -- strug gling to overcome the daily challenges around them. 97mins.

Host or Publisher USA Film Festival