Netflix Review: ‘The Remarkable Life of Ibelin’ Exposes an Unknown Past and Brings It to Vivid Life

The accessibility of technology to today’s youth is often decried as a negative force, one that prevents them from going out and interacting with the world and encourages utilizing anonymity for purposes ranging from mind-numbing and brain-stunting to truly nefarious and dangerous. But there can also be an incredible upside to the connection it can provide, as seen in the uplifting documentary The Remarkable Life of Ibelin, which peels back the layers of one young man’s far-reaching online experiences before his untimely death at the age of twenty-five.

This film begins by introducing its protagonist, Mats Steen, who was diagnosed with a degenerative muscular disease that dictated much of his physical ability and ultimately resulted in his death far too young. What his parents later learned, and what this film uncovers, is that Mats, while limited in what he could do with his body in the real world, was able to immerse himself in video games through World of Warcraft and connect on an emotional level with many other users. This film pieces together the two parts of his life, the one his parents saw and the one he led digitally.

This film begins from a point of obvious sadness due to the loss of someone at such a young age, and there’s a sense of wonder that comes from learning about Mats’ secret life which provides some solace. But it’s also contradicted by the fact that Mats’ parents Robert and Trude weren’t aware while he was alive that he had this outlet and instead thought that he was facing crippling loneliness and isolation, and it’s a part of him that they would have enjoyed sharing had they known about it. It’s a bittersweet discovery since they can only celebrate this important facet of his life without him.

Preserving Mats’ memory is a key part of this film, which opts to recreate some scenes from World of Warcraft using someone with a similar voice to Mats to speak his dialogue. It’s an intriguing cinematic device, one that serves as the best possible way to understand what it was like for him to be in this computer-generated world and develop a personality based on a different physical appearance and control of his body. While it is immersive, it may also be hard for some viewers to tether themselves to this unusual element not typically found in nonfiction filmmaking.

Director Benjamin Ree has consistently indicated a strong eye for great film subjects, beginning with a chess prodigy in Magnus and two people brought together by unconventional circumstances in The Painter and the Thief. Mats, known as Ibelin without World of Warcraft, is definitely another stirring choice, and his commitment to telling the story of someone who, unlike his previous subjects, can’t participate in interviews is impressive given that challenge and how he can only put things together based on preexisting material and accounts from those who knew or interacted with Mats and Ibelin.

This documentary can’t unlock everything about its protagonist’s life simply because many questions remain unanswered, but it does its best to showcase as much as it can. Ree knows how to steer the story in a way that’s coherent and inviting, giving just enough information about Mats before pivoting to his identity as Ibelin, bringing audiences entirely into a computer-simulated world that may be unfamiliar and jarring for them. Mats’ personal story is touching but also says a great deal about the positive potential of technology that is far too often overlooked due to the damage it can also cause.

Movie Rating: 7/10

Awards Buzz: After netting five mentions, including one for Best Documentary Feature, from the Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards, it’s very possible that this film could make the corresponding Oscar shortlist and potentially even earn a nomination if voters are compelled by what this film uncovers and showcases.