The documentary film The Remarkable Life of Ibelin, directed by Benjamin Ree, employs traditional documentary techniques along with recreations from World of Warcraft to depict the online life of Norwegian gamer Mats Steen. Mats, who passed away in 2014 at the age of 25 from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, is the central figure of the film.
Initially, Mats’ parents, Robert and Trude Steen, believed that his life was somewhat isolated due to his extensive gaming. They were concerned that Mats had not formed meaningful connections. However, after announcing Mats’ passing on his blog, they were inundated with messages revealing that Mats, under the alias Ibelin Redmoore in World of Warcraft, had led a richly connected and love-filled life within the game’s community.
The documentary introduces Mats through home videos that chronicle key moments from his infancy to the progression of his muscular dystrophy, showing him transitioning from being able to walk to using a wheelchair and spending extensive hours gaming. Despite the parents’ initial feelings of regret about Mats’ perceived isolation, the narrative shifts significantly as they receive emails from Mats’ gaming friends.
This shift, brought by reenactments of Mats’ gaming experiences from his blog "Musings of Life," provides invaluable insight into Mats’ perspective. Actor-read posts from his blog play over familiar home video footage, thus allowing Mats a pivotal voice in the narrative.
The film incorporates animated recreations of Mats’ World of Warcraft gameplay, drawn from more than 42,000 pages of gaming logs. These sequences replace traditional documentary methods and deeply immerse viewers in Mats’ experiences, highlighting the authenticity of his virtual life.
In World of Warcraft, Mats, as Ibelin, engaged in significant interactions with his guild, Starlight. These extended beyond the game, including forming an in-game romance that transitioned into real life and assisting a mother in connecting with her autistic son. Interviews with Starlight members and animated sequences paint Mats as an empathetic and engaging individual, contradicting his parents’ initial beliefs.
The documentary underscores the real-world impact of virtual communities. Although the idea that online spaces can foster genuine connections may not be novel, Ree’s portrayal of Mats’ niche community offers a poignant case study that challenges preconceived notions about gaming.
Reflecting Mats’ own life separation, The Remarkable Life of Ibelin keeps his family life and gaming life distinct. His parents knew little about his gaming world, while his gaming friends were initially unaware of his personal life details. However, the film concludes with a unifying and emotional memorial, demonstrating the profound impact Mats had on both communities.
The Remarkable Life of Ibelin was reviewed at Fantastic Fest and is set to be available on Netflix starting October 25.
