Ben X (2007)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Nic Balthazar

Writer:

Nic Balthazar (novel)

Release Date:

26 September 2007 (Belgium)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Everything's dare

Plot:

As an alternative to getting bullied at school, an autistic teenager retreats into the world of online role-playing games.

Plot Keywords:

Computer | Role Playing Game | Computer Game | Train | Online

Awards:

6 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Marijke Pinoy	...	Mother
Greg Timmermans	...	Ben
Cesar De Sutter	...	Jonas
Gilles De Schrijver	...	Coppola (as Gilles De Dchryver)
Bavo Smets	...	Ben - 6 years
Katrien Pierlet	...	Kleuterjuf
Rebecca Lenaerts	...	Opvoedster
Maarten Claeyssens	...	Desmet
Titus De Voogdt	...	Bogaert
Pol Goossen	...	Father
Michel Bauwens	...	Oorarts
Koen De Sutter	...	Oogarts
Peter De Graef	...	Psychiater
An Van Gijsegem	...	Maaike
Jakob Beks	...	Metal teacher

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

Belgium | Netherlands

Language:

Dutch

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Germany:12 | Finland:K-13 | Sweden:15 | Denmark:15 | UK:15 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Brugge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium

Company:

MMG Film & TV Production

Trivia:

The MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) in the movie is the real life game, Archlord.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Ben: [voiceover] It's hard to explain. It's hard to explain myself. But I never tell lies. Everything I say is true, even when I don't say a thing.

Movie Connections:

Remade as Untitled Ben X Remake (2009)

Must-see smart film about something that touched most of us

For me, it was probably the best movie I've seen about bullying and adapting to modern society when you don't fit the mold, when you're not particularly socially adept. It's not just about autism, everybody should see this, particularly those who have been ostracized in school for whatever reason, especially gaming geeks. Mostly because of the incredible performance by the lead actor (but also because of how well it was filmed), I totally felt and rooted for him. I quite enjoyed the gaming background of Ben although it didn't feel completely believable. No one with a gaming character would just stand there without fighting back. In my book, it's a must-see if you can find it.

9 out of 10.