DOWN SYNDROME DVD VIDEO MOVIE FILM EDEN RIEGEL: Duo on DVD & Video

<BODY bgcolor="#000000" TEXT="#FFFFFF" link="#FFFFFF"> <h4>Duo, film starring child actor with Down syndrome Stephane Ginnsz and Eden Riegel, now on DVD and Video.</h4> Screenwriter, Film Director and Producer Alexandre Ginnsz was a 19-year-old film student at the New York University Film and Television School when he wrote Duo, his first movie. Duo is a moving film about a boy with Down syndrome who falls in love with a violinist ( Eden Riegel) and sets out to become her piano accompanist. To lead his movie, Alexandre Ginnsz chose a 12-year-old actor with Down syndrome, his brother Stephane Ginnsz , who in 1995 became the first actor with Down syndrome to ever star in a movie or film. Stephane Ginnsz rises to the occasion delivering an astonishing performance cheered by movie audiences and film critics worldwide, and showing the world that people with Down syndrome , "special" people can be gifted too! Co-starring as the violinist is 12-year-old actress Eden Riegel , two-time TV Emmy Award nominee and now the star of the popular TV show "All My Children". The chemistry between Stephane Ginnsz and Eden Riegel is pure movie magic. Duo is an ode to love, innocence, and cinema. It is a treat to your eyes, ears, and soul, a rare film gem that will stay in your heart forever. The filmwas an official entry at the 1996 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 Film Award for Best Cinematography. Alexandre was also nominated in 1997 for the TASH Film and Video Award for best promoting the inclusion of people with severe disabilities ( like Down syndrome sometimes ) in all aspects of community life and reaching a national audience. This movie is now available on video (VHS) and DVD NTSC, DVD PAL and DVD SECAM as well as various mobile video formats. The DVD features Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround sound, French and Spanish subtitles, bonus video footage, extra features, and information for aspiring actors with Down syndrome who want to get into the film video and television business. The VHS video is available in the NTSC Video format only, with french, spanish, or no subtitles. <script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> 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!" <img src="images/bild2.jpg" alt="down syndrome movie film dvd video" width="251" height="151" border="0" /> France Magazine Article (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 French Embassy's Theater in Washington, DC). The movie 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, film  and video producer and film score composer. There is also his 13-year-old little brother with Down syndrome, Stephane, proud to have become become actor for Alexandre. Between the two, an amazing 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 violin soloist at the National Orchestre de Paris 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: 30 minutes of tenderness, emotions, glances and notes of music. It's too short. We are asking for more. Shot in 16 mm film, with its freshness often seeked by the best movie directors. This film points the finger at 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 film shoot, which took 10 working days, 20 hours daily, took place in part in the family house in Washington, for economical reasons. Certain scenes in the movie were shot at the french international high school in Bethesda, at Tilden Middle school and even at the French Embass, in the main movie theater. Duo received the Martin Scorcese Film Award and Warner Brothers Pictures Film Production Award... Not frequent for a young French film maker 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 screenplay of his next movie is already written. In one month, encouraged by true successes, he will be flying towards Los Angeles to edit another movie, with his script under the arm of course. This is how all the great film makers started... " <img src="/images/duo_main.jpg" alt="Down syndrome DVD video movie film with Eden Riegel" width="384" height="198" border="0" />       <div align="JUSTIFY"> The movie "Duo" is now available on  DVD (NTSC), DVD (PAL) and DVD (SECAM).   All DVD s have 5.1 Dolby Digital Sound, subtitles in French and Spanish, animated menus and 2 bonus videos.  The movie "Duo" is also available on VHS Video (NTSC), VHS Video with French Subtitles (NTSC), VHS Video with Spanish Subtitles (NTSC), Palm Video, PocketPC Video, FlashLite Video, and more... You will find merchandise from the movie Duo at the brand new Official "Duo" Movie Store.  Coming soon: Stephane and Eden's Fan Shop. </div> Hello and thank you for visiting the official site of Duo, the award-winning film now available on video and DVD, starring 12-year-old actor with Down syndrome Stephane Ginnsz and Eden Riegel (Bianca Montgomery in the television show "All My Children". Unfortunately, your browser does not support frames! Some of the features on this site require a frames-capable browser. For best results, we recommend that you download the latest version of your web browser. AOL Users: You must be running AOL 2.5 or later for Windows to use Netscape (Keyword: UPGRADE). You will also need to download and install WINSOCK.DLL (Keyword: WINSOCK). Macintosh users should contact AOL directly for help. </BODY>