The Remarkable Life of Ibelin (documentary) Posted in: Films, Seeing the Divine

The Remarkable Life of Ibelin (Netflix documentary)

When Norwegian gamer Mats Steen died at age 25, his parents mourned what they thought was an isolated life. It was only once they had access to his blog that they discovered the deep friendships he created virtually before passing away from a degenerative muscular disease. They were unaware that Mats had long been leading a vibrant digital life that had left a profound impact on a community of fellow gamers. The film takes us on a journey through the breadth of Mats Steen’s adventurous online life, introducing us to Ibelin, his charismatic World of Warcraft persona. Through reconstructed animated moments from Mats’ gameplay, narrated entries from his blog and interviews with people who knew him as Ibelin, a picture of a remarkable young man emerges, one that underscores how community and soulful relationships can transcend the boundaries of the physical world.
(Storyline from IMDB)

As a parent who has witnessed two sons spend countless hours playing World Of Warcraft as they grew up, and then on into adulthood, this film was intriguing from the outset. And then it proved an emotional watch to say the very least.

Reflecting afterwards, I saw the very personal adventure and struggle of protagonist Mats Steen could also be seen as analogous to the lot of everyone of us … transcendental souls taking birth in the material world that we are. A place where we play roles, connect with others, exchange love etc., but never really fully display our true selves or know at the deepest of levels the people in our lives. That is not to minimise life here in any way. There is something deeply beautiful and simultaneously mysterious going on for sure. Something worth of God.