“The Remarkable Life of Ibelin” employs traditional documentary techniques combined with “World of Warcraft” recreations to craft a poignant portrayal of the online existence of a Norwegian gamer.
Directed by Benjamin Ree, the documentary focuses on 25-year-old Mats Steen, who passed away in 2014 due to Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Initially, Mats’ parents, Robert and Trude, hold a rather grim view of his life, believing he had little social interaction due to his extensive gaming. However, after announcing Mats’ death on his blog, they receive an outpouring of support that unveils Mats’ richly connected life within the online role-playing game “World of Warcraft,” where he was known as Ibelin Redmoore.
The film introduces Mats through nostalgic home videos provided by his parents. It showcases significant milestones: his infancy, his schooling, and the progression of his dystrophy. Footage includes moments of Mats struggling and overcoming physical challenges until he eventually uses a wheelchair and immerses himself in gaming. Throughout these moments, Robert and Trude express regret over what they perceive as Mats’ isolation, wishing they could have done more.
However, the narrative shifts when Robert and Trude begin receiving emails from Mats’ friends within “WoW.” The film then revisits previous footage, this time from Mats’ perspective, incorporating blog posts from “Musings of Life,” read aloud by an actor. These voiceovers often overlay familiar home video content, allowing Mats’ voice to contribute significantly to the narrative.
A notable element of the documentary is the recreated scenes from Mats’ “WoW” gameplay, drawn from over 42,000 pages of gaming logs. These animated segments provide an immersive view of Mats’ experiences, replacing traditional documentary methods like interviews and home videos, thus bringing viewers closer to his story.
In these animated “WoW” scenes, Mats is depicted as Ibelin, interacting with his online community, a role-playing guild named Starlight. These interactions extend beyond the game’s quests and challenges, featuring moments where Mats engages in meaningful relationships, such as an in-game romance and helping a mother reconnect with her autistic son. Through these scenes and interviews with Starlight members, an image of Mats emerges as kind, empathetic, and deeply engaged in the relationships his parents desired for him, albeit in an online setting.
The documentary underscores the real-world significance of virtual spaces. Ree’s exploration of Mats’ niche “WoW” community serves as a compelling case study, challenging common stereotypes about gaming and illustrating its potential as a tool for meaningful connection.
“The Remarkable Life of Ibelin” maintains the separation between Mats’ family life and his online life, reflecting his own experience and that of his friends. While his gaming companions were initially unaware of much of his personal life, the film converges both worlds in its emotional final moments, culminating in a memorial that deeply moves the audience.
The film serves as a touching tribute to Mats’ impact on many people and the profound power of virtual connections. “The Remarkable Life of Ibelin” was reviewed at Fantastic Fest and is scheduled to release on Netflix on October 25.