The Duel (2011)

The debut feature from writer Alberto Veloso and director Diego Hallivis, The Duel, released on DVD by Chelsea Films on 25th July 2011, is a gritty urban teen drama about friendship, loyalty and family ties set against the backdrop of New York's highly competitive underground two-on-two basketball scene.

Played out to a pounding score of original hip-hop beats by Isaac Opus, Steven Da Guy, Jay Burna and others, the film stars Jason Hurt (Still A Teen Movie), Maria DiDomenico (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) and newcomers Phil Haus and Noelle Mihalinec.

After suddenly moving from Wisconsin to New York to escape an abusive father and husband, Vance Halden (Haus) and his mother (Katherine Wessling) wind up living in one of the poorest and roughest neighbourhoods of the notoriously mean city. To make matters worse, from day one Vance unwittingly manages to attract the ire of some of the toughest kids at his new school. But things change in gym class, when the cocky basketball coach challenges him to prove himself in a shoot-out. Vance's obvious talent for scoring hoops not only blows away the rest of the class but also earns him the immediate respect of Jules (Hurt), a local hustler and one of the most popular kids in school.

Seeing the new kid as an opportunity to make some quick cash, Jules invites Vance to team up with him in the underground sport known as duelling, a violent and high-stakes version of two-on-two basketball. The next couple of months see the pair laying waste to the local competition, increasing Vance's popularity at school and grabbing the attention of Lena (Mihalinec), a beautiful classmate and the ex-girlfriend of one of his most bitter rivals, Maurice (Antoine Harris). Regarded as the city's most ruthless dueller, Maurice, determined to win back Lena, responds by laying down a challenge that Vance simply can't refuse. With the stage set for a no-holds-barred showdown that could see Vance losing everything, unexpected tragedy strikes, leaving him and Jules fighting for more than just money or glory.

Please note - Disc special features are subject to change, may differ from format to format and/or may differ from region to region.