UP SYNDROME

Synopsis

University of Texas student Duane Graves chronicles his charismatic childhood chum Rene Moreno, a San Antonio, Texas, native with Down syndrome, in this playful, stirring, remarkably unique portrait documentary. Duane Graves grew up nine houses down from Rene, a charming young man born mentally handicapped. Inspired by his confidence, Graves quickly recruited him and the two spent their hot Texas summers shooting B-home movies: Graves manned the camera, Rene the fervent star. Now at the age of 24, Graves has returned to document one of the most important years in Rene's life. "Up Syndrome" follows Moreno during the pivotal year after his high school graduation; a time when his desire for independence has strengthened in a society that isn't sure it has a slot for people like him. "One day my dad called standing next to a dumpster full of film canisters," Graves recalls. "I made him climb in the trash and load them up. It turned out to be all 179 episodes of 'I Love Lucy' on 16mm. I sold them as a set on E-bay for $4,000 and made this documentary."