Video games get a bad rap. They get blamed for a lot of society’s ills, whether it be toxic dudes and abuse of women or gun violence. But they can also be an escape from a tough reality, and a conduit for personal growth and healing. I’ve been hearing great things about the documentary The Remarkable Life of Ibelin (reviewed by Cortland here) since it debuted at Sundance, and today brings the first trailer before its Netflix premiere next month.
The Remarkable Life of Ibelin tells the true story of Norwegian gamer Mats Steen. Mats was diagnosed with a degenerative muscular disease and lived what his parents thought was a lonely life playing video games, until he died at the young age of 25. However, his parents soon learned that their son touched a lot of lives when his fellow gamers began reaching out to them in shows of support.
The film is directed by Benjamin Ree, who previously worked on the film,The Painter and the Thief, which also received a ton of acclaim.
SYNOPSIS: When Mats Steen, a Norwegian gamer, died of a degenerative muscular disease at age 25, his parents mourned what they thought had been a lonely and isolated existence. They were unaware that Mats had long been leading a vibrant digital life that had left a profound impact on a community of fellow gamers. The film takes us on a journey through the breadth of Mats Steen’s adventurous online life, introducing us to Ibelin, his charismatic World of Warcraft persona. Through reconstructed animated moments from Mats’ gameplay, narrated entries from his blog and interviews with people who knew him as Ibelin, a picture of a remarkable young man emerges, one that underscores how community and soulful relationships can transcend the boundaries of the physical world.
Netflix premieres The Remarkable Life of Ibelin on October 25th.
