A revolutionary documentary featuring animation reminiscent of World of Warcraft has debuted on Netflix, obtaining an impressive 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and eliciting strong emotional reactions from its audience.
As Halloween approaches, Netflix continues to deliver non-fiction content with a focus on true crime, introducing titles like the serial killer docu-series “This is the Zodiac Speaking”and Anna Kendrick’s compelling “Woman of the Hour”.
If you’re seeking a more heartfelt portrayal of the human condition, don’t miss Benjamin Ree’s “The Remarkable Life of Ibelin,”which is definitely worth watching.
After its successful premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it received two prestigious awards, the documentary is now available on Netflix US, starting October 25.
The narrative revolves around Mats Steen, a gamer from Norway who dedicated extensive hours to playing World of Warcraft while embodying his heroic character, Lord Ibelin Redmoore.
Mats battled Duchenne muscular dystrophy in real life, a condition that progressively hindered his physical abilities and his interactions with the world.
Within the realm of World of Warcraft, however, he experienced a vibrant life, forging friendships and becoming part of a community. Tragically, Mats passed away at the young age of 25 in 2014.
His parents, Robert and Trude, were unaware of their son’s virtual existence until after his death, when they discovered the password to his blog and began to learn about the substantial impact he had online.
They were astonished by the powerful connections and the online community that Mats had cultivated. He once wrote in a blog post, “In there, my handicap doesn’t matter; my chains are broken and I can be whoever I want to be. I feel normal.”
Ree’s inspiration for “The Remarkable Life of Ibelin”came from reading insights from Robert and Trude in a BBC article. When he approached them for home videos of Mats, he was stunned to find a video featuring himself and Mats’ parents.
The filmmaker shared with Netflix’s Tudum, “I’m not particularly religious, but I felt a sense of spirituality in that moment. Mats’ family and mine were part of the same friend group in the late ’80s. Unfortunately, after my parents relocated, they lost touch.”
In addition to real-life footage, Ree employed animators to vividly recreate Mats’ gaming life in World of Warcraft from 2004 to 2014.
When the animators sought permission from Blizzard Entertainment, the company behind the iconic game, they were deeply moved by the documentary’s concept and enthusiastic about its development.
Mats crafted a unique persona for himself as Ibelin in the game
IndieWire remarked, “This film illustrates that individuals can engage meaningful interactions in various forms today, achieving this with extraordinary clarity and emotional depth.”
The Guardian also expressed, “Dismiss it if you must, non-gamers, but by the end, it’s nearly impossible to hold back tears after witnessing the emotional narrative and intricate details of this story.”
RogerEbert.com noted, “This documentary celebrates empowerment, empathy, and the influential connections we can create, regardless of whether we ever meet. Expect to cry; the tears are worth it.”
Viewers at home have shared their thoughts, with one stating, “Ree artfully narrates a tale about misunderstanding, facing grief, growing up, forming friendships, and discovering love.”
Another praised it, “Incredibly directed, with top-notch voice acting—this film moved me to tears. It’s the best documentary I’ve seen and absolutely a must-watch!”
“The Remarkable Life of Ibelin”is currently streaming on Netflix. For more captivating documentaries, explore HBO’s “Daniel,”Amanda Mustard’s “Great Photo, Lovely Life,”and the saga of Jennifer Pandos. You can also discover other noteworthy Netflix documentaries available to watch now.
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