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For many, the internet is like a second home. For individuals who, for whatever reason, live their offline life in isolation, it offers a particularly unique freedom. Such was the case of Mats Steen, a Norwegian gamer who was diagnosed with a degenerative muscular disease in his youth, passing away from it at the age of 25. His story is told in the Sundance award-winning documentary The Remarkable Life of Ibelin. James writes, “This is a truly original and brilliant piece of work. Repeatedly shapeshifting, it tells the life of young Mats several times over, variously through family archive, master interviews, and then a brilliantly devastating use of animation.”
From the perspective of his parents, Mats lived a lonely and isolated life, spending many hours holed away in his room on his computer. However, director Benjamin Ree uses detailed logs and blog posts to recreate the complex life Mats led online, especially the community he built on World of Warcraft. As his alter ego Ibelin, Mats lived a rich existence, filled with friends and adventure, heartache and joy. Nadiiachau notes that this archival work allows Mats’ “sense of humor, his compassion, and his humanity” to shine just as brightly now as they did during his life.
As someone who grew up in an isolated rural community, lived a double life online, and almost died at the age of fourteen, I felt very seen by this documentary. Austin shares this sentiment, writing, “Anybody who’s ever felt like a part of an online community should watch this. It’s a beautiful story, and you will cry.” MEG
