Mats Steen, a Norwegian gamer, died of a degenerative muscular disease at the age of 25. His parents mourned what they thought had been a lonely and isolated life, when they started receivin... Read allMats Steen, a Norwegian gamer, died of a degenerative muscular disease at the age of 25. His parents mourned what they thought had been a lonely and isolated life, when they started receiving messages from online friends around the world.Mats Steen, a Norwegian gamer, died of a degenerative muscular disease at the age of 25. His parents mourned what they thought had been a lonely and isolated life, when they started receiving messages from online friends around the world.
- Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
- 14 wins & 31 nominations total
Mats Steen
- Self - Ibelin
- (archive footage)
Mikkel Neilsen
- Self - Nikmik
- (as Mikkel Riknagel Nielsen)
Xenia-Anni Neilsen
- Self - Reike
- (as Xenia-Anni Nielsen)
Rikke Nielsen
- Self - Etaine
- (voice)
Tor BjΓΈrn Torp
- Self
- (voice)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
A must see for everyone. A heartwarming and touching movie about my fellow Norwegian man. I cried and got to think about his life when he lived. No spoilers so just sit back and feel the movie.
You will not be disappointed at all. Ibelin has been in Norwegian media for some time and I was wondering if this could be a good movie, so hell yeah... Shows me as a father that when kids are more in a virtual word it's not necessarily a bad thing. It's just something I don't understand just yet.
So please sit back and let the movie take you through a young man's world so far away from our world. And if you are living in Ibelins world; I salute you π³π΄
You will not be disappointed at all. Ibelin has been in Norwegian media for some time and I was wondering if this could be a good movie, so hell yeah... Shows me as a father that when kids are more in a virtual word it's not necessarily a bad thing. It's just something I don't understand just yet.
So please sit back and let the movie take you through a young man's world so far away from our world. And if you are living in Ibelins world; I salute you π³π΄
This documentary is absolutely one of the most heart-wrenching documentaries that I've ever seen that really shines true to my personal experiences and connections that I've made and playing World of Warcraft. Good friend of mine, Sightblinder, passed away after knowing him for nearly 10 years playing World of Warcraft, but his impact lives true within me.
True connection takes place only with genuine intention and complete compassion and empathy for those who you are connecting with... and in the world is distracting as what we have today, we don't find many like Ibelin.
I think we all hope one day to have the impact that Ibelin did, and forever may he RIP.
RIP Ibelin, AKA Mats.
RIP Sightblinder aka Dan Borges.
True connection takes place only with genuine intention and complete compassion and empathy for those who you are connecting with... and in the world is distracting as what we have today, we don't find many like Ibelin.
I think we all hope one day to have the impact that Ibelin did, and forever may he RIP.
RIP Ibelin, AKA Mats.
RIP Sightblinder aka Dan Borges.
I went to the cinema yesterday without knowing too much about the story, except it being very emotionally moving, and left it a feeling of gratefuleness.
This movie displays the story of a young man who had to live his life with a severe muscular disease, that eventually took him. Due to his incapability of taking part in life in the real world, he chose to spent it mostly digitally in World of Warcraft. In this virtual world he was not limited by his disease and could do things, that he was not able to do otherwise.
This documentary displays is life in WoW and how he affected others. It is a very moving story and I could imagine it to be eye opening, especially for elder people, who might not have a perception of how much a virtual world can impact people.
I consider myself a gamer as well, not particularly a roleplayer, but a gamer and thereby I know, how beautiful games can be and how they can yield relationships. With that perspective in mind, I also was moved by the story. Rest in Peace Ibelin.
This movie displays the story of a young man who had to live his life with a severe muscular disease, that eventually took him. Due to his incapability of taking part in life in the real world, he chose to spent it mostly digitally in World of Warcraft. In this virtual world he was not limited by his disease and could do things, that he was not able to do otherwise.
This documentary displays is life in WoW and how he affected others. It is a very moving story and I could imagine it to be eye opening, especially for elder people, who might not have a perception of how much a virtual world can impact people.
I consider myself a gamer as well, not particularly a roleplayer, but a gamer and thereby I know, how beautiful games can be and how they can yield relationships. With that perspective in mind, I also was moved by the story. Rest in Peace Ibelin.
Well, Rarely do i find a documentary that shreds me to the core.
It's great in it's simplicity, but this true story hits you to the core on an international level. A must see for every parent and educator who is afraid of the online gaming community.
Now, I rarely get emotional these days, it has been a few years since I have tears run down my face during such a long time. The documentary hits every chord it touches, for me at least. True, when you look at the story objectively, and take all the emotional items out of it, it is a story so clichΓ© that it borders on the sickening delights of a cheap RomCom. It follows exactly the same story line one could imagine in a movie of that kind. Yet the true story and the testimonies of his family and the online community give it a message that hits home hard.
Personally I was touched as my life has many similarities to our hero, but for quite different reasons and for sure I am not a hero, Mats is! In every single definition of the word.
May there be many Ibelin's in this world, and the online worlds, and I hope 'World of Warcraft' erects a statue in Azeroth (or names the 30 minute route he ran every day) to the exceptional person that was Mats "Ibelin" Steen, and may they produce a full scale movie about his and his characters life with all profits going to the research of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
It's great in it's simplicity, but this true story hits you to the core on an international level. A must see for every parent and educator who is afraid of the online gaming community.
Now, I rarely get emotional these days, it has been a few years since I have tears run down my face during such a long time. The documentary hits every chord it touches, for me at least. True, when you look at the story objectively, and take all the emotional items out of it, it is a story so clichΓ© that it borders on the sickening delights of a cheap RomCom. It follows exactly the same story line one could imagine in a movie of that kind. Yet the true story and the testimonies of his family and the online community give it a message that hits home hard.
Personally I was touched as my life has many similarities to our hero, but for quite different reasons and for sure I am not a hero, Mats is! In every single definition of the word.
May there be many Ibelin's in this world, and the online worlds, and I hope 'World of Warcraft' erects a statue in Azeroth (or names the 30 minute route he ran every day) to the exceptional person that was Mats "Ibelin" Steen, and may they produce a full scale movie about his and his characters life with all profits going to the research of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
I was lucky enough to be at a screening where Mats' father presented the film, and afterwards he and the audience reflected around it. A mother in the audience said that the film gave her more understanding about her son's relationship with gaming, and they reflected on the fact that adults often judge the gaming culture before they have seen the whole picture. I think that was an interesting reflection.
This film was so beautiful and heartwarming. The movie addresses many issues surrounding gaming, and tackles a number of prejudices many have against gaming and shines a new light on it. It opened my eyes to the freedoms it gives to many, and the fact that so many strong and lasting communities and friendships gets made and exist on this platforms. It also focuses on making the most of the life you have, and the power that lies in caring, being kind, showing respect and listening to others. Would recommend it heartily!
This film was so beautiful and heartwarming. The movie addresses many issues surrounding gaming, and tackles a number of prejudices many have against gaming and shines a new light on it. It opened my eyes to the freedoms it gives to many, and the fact that so many strong and lasting communities and friendships gets made and exist on this platforms. It also focuses on making the most of the life you have, and the power that lies in caring, being kind, showing respect and listening to others. Would recommend it heartily!
Did you know
- TriviaIn interviews, Benjamin Ree has stated that the film was completed without initial permission from Blizzard, the owners of World of Warcraft. This was a big risk, but necessary to ensure the film's independent status. When the film was completed, the production crew contacted Blizzard and travelled to California to show them the film. After the screening, several of the bosses of the company were crying and granted the necessary rights.
- ConnectionsFeatures Dragonheart: Fire & Steel (1996)
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- La singular vida de Ibelin
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- $1,303,564
- Runtime1 hour 43 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
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