The Remarkable Life of Ibelin

Video games have long been central to the lives of so many, yet the culture at large remains caught in a struggle to adequately talk about the myriad ways games enrich one’s experience of the world. Benjamin Ree’s The Remarkable Life of Ibelin makes a devastating and gorgeous contribution to the discussion. The documentary traces the story of Mats Steen, a Norwegian man born with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, who builds out a full life in World of Warcraft, the massive online role-playing game. Through his virtual form, he finds a deep community with whom he experiences the stuff of life: joy, beauty, heartbreak. Steen’s two existences run parallel until his death, at the age of twenty-five, when his parents, who had worried that their son’s online adventures had kept him from participating in life, discover the friends he leaves behind and the two halves come together. Rendered as a collage of in-game footage, home videos, and recollections from Steen’s family and friends, Ree’s documentary is a touching tribute to a brief life well-lived. For its window into what digital spaces can bring to the human experience, The Remarkable Life of Ibelin wins a Peabody Award.