"The remarkable life of Ibelin" ... Videogames aren't just for kids.

Although for many people the times that came before us were “better”, one of the aspects that I enjoy most about existing in the 21st century is the way in which we have left behind much of the stigma that surrounded video games since their conception, often reduced to children's toys with little artistic value that did nothing more than waste our time.

Directed by Benjamin Ree, “The Remarkable Life of Iberin” is brilliant proof of the opposite, presented as a moving Norwegian documentary exclusive to Netflix where we follow the life of Mats Steve, a young man who was born with a rare muscle disease whose condition worsens as the years go by, although his family always felt sorry for the limitations that this represented for leading a normal life, after Mats' death they discover that, far from having seen his life wasted, he left an immense mark on the world of World Of Warcraft, where he spent a considerable amount of his last years.

The brilliance of “The Remarkable Life of Iberin” is the amount of respect with which Mats’ (known as Iberin in the WOW world) virtual life is handled, which, rather than seeing it as just a form of escapism, actually saw in every pixel an opportunity to freely develop his personality, forge friendships, teach and fall in love. Aside from this, multiple forum logs were used where basically every interaction Mats had with his WOW tribe was recorded, something that was brilliantly used by a group of animators to reproduce them perfectly, supported by the voice work of a young man who spoke very similarly.

Divided into two parts, this documentary gives us a glimpse into Mats’ life on and off screen, and, far from making us feel bad about his passing, allows us to celebrate all the virtual achievements he accumulated.

While I don't deny that video games are a form of entertainment that can lend itself to addiction and questionable behavior, they can also serve as a beautiful point of connection for many people with physical or social limitations. It's a plane where we are all equal that is often healthier than the real world, and The Remarkable Life Of Iberin is a perfect example of this.

Score taken from my Letterboxd account