Reviews
"Writer/ Director Alexandre Ginnsz was a 19-year-old senior student at the New York University Film School when he wrote Duo, his first film. Duo is the moving story of a boy in love with a violinist who sets out to become her accompanist. To lead his film, Alexandre chose a 12-year-old boy with Down syndrome, his brother Stephane, who in 1995 became the first actor with Down syndrome to ever star in a motion picture. Stephane rises to the occasion delivering an astonishing performance cheered by audiences worldwide, and showing everyone that "special" people can be gifted too! Co-starring as the violinist is 12-year-old Eden Riegel, two-time Emmy Award nominee and now the star of the popular TV show "All My Children". The chemistry between Stephane and Eden is pure magic. Duo is an ode to love, innocence, and beauty. It is a treat to your eyes, ears, and soul, a rare gem that will stay in your heart forever. It was an official entry at the 1996 Film Academy Awards (Student Category), finalist at the 1996 Chicago International Children's Film Festival, winner of the 1996 Martin Scorsese Film Post Production Award, winner of the 1996 Warner Bros Pictures Film Production Award and winner of the 1996 Wasserman Award for Best Cinematography. Alexandre was also nominated in 1997 for the TASH Film Media Award, "for best promoting the inclusion of people with severe disabilities in all aspects of community life and reaching a national audience". Duo is now available on video (DVD & VHS) in limited edition. The DVD features Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround sound, French and Spanish subtitles, bonus footage, extra features, and information for people with Down syndrome who want to get involved in film and the arts."
Amazon Viewers' Reviews:
"Experience of a Life Time" October 24, 2004
by Chris T.
"This is one of the most moving films I have ever seen. Stephane Ginnsz (who has Down syndrome) gives a tour de force of a performance, that shifts you from tears to joy and back again. Eden Riegel also gives a stunningly beautiful performance. Both did above and beyond in their roles. The direction is also dead on, along with the script. This film is an experience of a life time."
"Beautiful Movie!" October 16, 2004
by natashka "Natasha" (USA)
"This film was a real treat! The two young actors, Stephan Ginnsz and Eden Riegel, are amazing. I was especially impressed by Stephan, a 12-year-old actor who has Down syndrome. He gives one of the most subtle, yet powerful performances I have ever seen on screen. The story is really beautiful too, sometimes funny, sometimes deep, always unpredictable, and definitely unforgettable!"
Le Figaro's France Amerique Magazine Article (May 1997)
by Aryelle MONANGE
"Alexandre Ginnsz has written, produced, directed and edited Duo, a film twice awarded in the United States and whose first role is held by his little brother who has Down syndrome. Expatriate for ten years in Washington, DC and New York, this young Frenchman just presented his film at the Maison Francaise. The theater was packed. His adventure is altogether an example of family solidarity, where each one gives his best to help Duo penetrate the closed world of movies. A beautiful story.In the Ginnsz family, there is the big brother, Alexandre, 22-years-old hardly and already movie director, screenwriter, film editor, producer and compositor of film music. There is also his 13-year-old little brother with Down syndrome, Slephane, proud to have become become actor for Alexandre. Between the two, an amzing complicity and much, much love. The father works at the World Bank, descendant of a long line of engineers and engineer himself. The artistic dimension of the boys undoubtedly comes from the mother, Irene, cordial and passionate, a long time violonist at the National Orchestre of Paris and who just got back to work (with joy). it is also to help out her son Alexandre. One could add the grand-father, now also movie producer to help out... you know the rest. In the heart of this family, there is a movie, Duo, full of tenderness, emotions, glances and notes of music., with freshness, often seeked by the best film directors. This movie points the finger on what bothers us and what we try to ignore.
Stephane Ginnsz plays the lead role, a student in a special education class of kids with Down syndrome, who falls in love with Joan (played by Eden Riegel), a young violonist (disconcerting of beauty and grace) Her voice is as fragile as the notes of music which vibrate on the cords of her violin. Joan has this in common with Stephane: loneliness, being different, more sensitive, a dreamer, more timid. She is also lost in her own world, on the other side of the mirror. To be able to communicate, He draws a picture for her, in exchange she teaches him three small notes from music. And Stephane starts to dream: one day he will be jer accompanist. When Alexandre Ginnsz imagine the script of his movie, he was not even 20 yet. In third year of film school at New York University, his these was to be no longer than 15 minutes. Alexandre decided to make it a little longer (which will cost him to be disqualified from the school festival): his close relatives are ready to help him. The story is actually like the story of his family. "I remember Stephane. my little brother very alone", remembers Alexandre.
As for Stephane, the little brother with Down syndrome, he trained for a long time before the shoot. "At the beginning, I simply wanted to know if he could follow the directives. Progressively, I pushed him to see if he could do more, and that was often the case... ", explains Alexandre, obviously in admiration. The result is striking with accuracy and reserve: Stephane can move us, but he can also make us laugh.
The work in this film is colossal. The family has to scrape the drawers to finance it (with the help of several grants). More than 300 young actresses auditioned for the role of Joan. The shoot, which took 10 working days, 20 hours daily, took place in the family house in Washington, for economical reasons. Certain scenes were shot at the french international high school in Bethesda, at Tilden Middle school and even at the French Embass, in the main theater.
Duo received the Martin Scorcese Award and Warner Brothers Award... Not frequent for a young French director in the United States. Success however did not go to Alexandre Ginnsz's head. He is one of those whose reserve and modesty make sympathetic and moving.
Gently, without haste, he is tracing his road. The script of his next film is already written: a feature-length version of Duo. In one month, encouraged by true successes, he will be flying towards Los Angeles to edit another film. His script under the arm of course. This is how all the greatest ones started... "
