Often, we hear about the negative effects video games have had on our society. However, in the new documentary, “The Remarkable Life of Ibelin,” we get to see how one gamer was able to escape his real life struggles and enter a digital world full of love, friendship, and adventure.
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As seen in the trailer, “The Remarkable Life of Ibelin” tells the story of a Norwegian gamer, Mats Steen. Born with a degenerative muscular disease, he never was able to live what most people would think of as a “normal” life. However, he was able to fully immerse himself in the online “World of Warcraft.” Sadly, when he passed away at the age of 25, his family thought he lived a lonely existence. That changed when friends from his digital existence began to reach out and show that Mats really did live a full life thanks to his gaming.
The film is directed by Benjamin Ree, who previously worked on the film, “The Painter and the Thief.”
“The Remarkable Life of Ibelin” had its debut at this year’s Sundance, and it will be available to watch on Netflix on October 25. You can watch the trailer below.
Here’s the 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.
