As an alternative to getting bullied at school, an autistic teenager retreats into the world of online role-playing games.
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Title: Ben X (2007)
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7 wins & 4 nominations.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Marijke Pinoy | ... | Moeder | |
| Greg Timmermans | ... | Ben | |
| Cesar De Sutter | ... | Jonas | |
| Gilles De Schryver | ... | Coppola (as Gilles De Schrijver) | |
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Bavo Smets | ... | Ben - 6 jaar |
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Katrien Pierlet | ... | Kleuterjuf |
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Rebecca Lenaerts | ... | Opvoedster |
|
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Maarten Claeyssens | ... | Desmet |
| Titus De Voogdt | ... | Bogaert | |
|
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Pol Goossen | ... | Vader |
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Michel Bauwens | ... | Oorarts |
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Koen De Sutter | ... | Oogarts |
| Peter De Graef | ... | Psychiater | |
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An Van Gijsegem | ... | Maaike |
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Jakob Beks | ... | Leraar metaal |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
Ben is different. His life is a universe to itself, where he plays his favorite on line computer game Archlord avidly, trying hard to train himself for the real world he lives in. The harsh world of a technical school is for him a daily kind of hell. As the horror of being a daily subject to bullying grows, Ben devises a plan. Then Scarlite comes into his life, the girl he has met in his on-line game. That wasn't part of the plan... Written by Peter Bouckaert
Plot Keywords:
faked death | bullying | imaginary friend | faked suicide | assisted suicide |Taglines:
Every end is a beginning See more »Parents Guide:
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Details
Release Date:
26 September 2007 (Belgium) See more »Also Known As:
Ben X, o distaktikos iroas See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
EUR1,500,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend USA:
$904, 26 October 2008Gross USA:
$1,601Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$2,744,414Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Dolby SRColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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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.
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Written by Paul Powell, Arno (as Arno Hintjens) and Filip Moortgat
Performed by Arno
Published by EMI Virgin Music Publishing France & EMI Virgin Music Ltd.
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Belgium's Official Submission to the Best Foreign Language Film Category of the 80th Annual Academy Awards (2008). See more »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.
See more »
Soundtracks
Lonesome ZorroWritten by Paul Powell, Arno (as Arno Hintjens) and Filip Moortgat
Performed by Arno
Published by EMI Virgin Music Publishing France & EMI Virgin Music Ltd.
See more »
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I was interested in this film as soon as I read about it because you don't see that often that the topic of games is incorporated in a serious film with relevant issues. I was interested in how they would blend in images of the game world and the real one. It turned out fine, the movie is beautifully shot.
From the beginning on, the film makes you believe it's going to end in a predictable way but it had a good surprise ending. Of note are the well thought out monologues of Ben X, using very little words to express what he feels (something he cannot do towards others).
The movie also kept it's integrity in showing how most autistic people would probably be towards girls: mostly invisible. Although Scarlite plays an important role in the film, she's mostly in Ben's mind. Ben is also not spared when the cruelties committed against him are revealed. There was definitely a statement in the film without handing out a clear solution.
On a side note: personally I think autistic people should be able go to special schools. They are in some ways very gifted and smart and should be cherished that way rather than treated as people with a problem that should constantly struggle to adapt.
Back to the film: all in all it delivered all you could want from director Nic Balthazar who I only knew as host of TV show Filmfan and I knew it would have integrity because he is clearly an honest and personable guy.
There's also a lot of nice extra's on the DVD including the game Archlord itself, overall a well thought out, complete film package!