Netflix’s Bittersweet Documentary Will Give You Hope

The Remarkable Life of Ibelin
explores the true and unexpected story of a young man’s struggles with disability, and the very real virtual world he inhabits to escape his physical limitations. The documentary film takes a closer look at the life of a young man who spent much of his time in World of Warcraft’s Azeroth, connecting with others virtually. To show both sides of his life, the film cuts between live-action footage and animated stories reflecting his character within the game.

For the Steen family, it was increasingly painful to watch their son, Mats, suffer from muscular dystrophy to the point that it slowly denied him more and more access to the physical world around him. However, Mats found an escape in video games, and while his family saw this as a simple distraction, the truth about his life online was far more expansive than they could have imagined. From experiencing his first crush, to changing lives, Mats lived his life to the fullest, with the aid of an avatar and a computer.

Mats’ muscular dystrophy meant that this was his reality. Despite growing up like any other child, albeit with a slightly delayed development, he was able to walk, run, play, and push his physical limits. But over time, his illness advanced, and his body succumbed to an intense condition that slowly removed his strength from every part of his body.

In an effort to engage his mind, and keep him active mentally, Mats’ parents chose to let him play video games with minimal to no restrictions. And while these games became a way to escape and become active, one game became much, much more thanks to its rigorous programming, a massive multiplayer online community, and the imagination of the players who designed a roleplaying community within the bounds of the game. With this in place, Mats was able to use World of Warcraft not simply as an escape, but as another world for him to explore and engage.

Of course, there are trade-offs, and his life in the game did not perfectly mirror a life he could have potentially led, but The Remarkable Life of Ibelin shows how much the young man was able to get in a virtual reality with low-resolution graphics and text-based communications. As a result, the film offers an inspiring and remarkable story of hope, creativity, and adaptability, through the eyes of Mats and his alter ego, Ibelin. The film calls upon some of the individuals he connected with through this game and further reveals the real-life impact he made on them.

Ibelin’s Story Feels Unfinished

Tragically, Mats passed away at just 25 years old, and the documentary feels as though some of his story remained untold. The Netflix documentary takes a close look at just two of the stories about Mats’ connection with others through the video game and hints at many more. While it does deliver incredible insight and a glimpse at Mats’ story, it feels as though there was much more to be told.

This may be the intention of the film, leaving us aware that even Mats’ short life, with the limitations he faced, was so rich and varied that it could not be adequately covered in under two hours. But, it still feels lacking in some way. Many more connections and stories were hinted at, which confirms that there was more to share, but the film could have benefited from including more individuals whose lives were touched by Mats, especially because there were dozens of emails sent to his parents following his death.

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Regardless, the documentary does do an excellent job covering the stories that were included, visualizing them with the use of animated shots that saw Mats’ Ibelin in contact with others in the game and creating very real connections. The film is heartwarming, bittersweet, and beautiful. And while there could’ve been more to The Remarkable Life of Ibelin, it’s a beautiful tribute to an intelligent young man, and the resourceful and imaginative nature of humans as a whole.

The Remarkable Life of Ibelin is available to stream on Netflix on October 25.

7/10

Mats Steen, a Norwegian gamer who died at 25 from a degenerative muscular disease, was believed by his parents to have led a lonely life. However, after his passing, they discovered the strong connections he had formed with online friends worldwide, who reached out with messages of support and remembrance.

Pros

• The creative use of animated game footage alongside interviews brings the documentary to life.
• The film is respectful and comprehensive in telling the story of Mats Steen.
• Many different contacts were included to examine Mats’ life through many individuals eyes.

Cons

• The film could have used one or two more stories to expand on Mats’ impact on others.