Duet

Ruth begins her 30th birthday alone, as she often is, with nothing but her thoughts, memories, and her piano, an extension of her inner life. It’s apparent that this day is overshadowed by a spectre from her past which she increasingly cannot deny. Her older brother Adam — an equally solitary workaholic — arrives with a cake and a gift card for a routine birthday visit between meetings. But what starts as a perfunctory drop-in becomes a turning point in their lives, as Ruth lays her cards out on the table and sparks a confrontation about the defining event which broke their family and their attempts to come to terms with it.

Directed by —, Duet leans on a strong ensemble — Michael Rivers, Joe Briggs — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 0.