Ben X (2007)

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

Director:

Nic Balthazar

Writers:

Nic Balthazar (novel), Rik D'Hiet (advisor on screenplay)

Stars:

Marijke Pinoy, Greg Timmermans, Cesar De Sutter

7 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Marijke Pinoy	...	Moeder
Greg Timmermans	...	Ben
Cesar De Sutter	...	Jonas
Gilles De Schryver	...	Coppola (as Gilles De Schrijver)
Bavo Smets	...	Ben - 6 jaar
Katrien Pierlet	...	Kleuterjuf
Rebecca Lenaerts	...	Opvoedster
Maarten Claeyssens	...	Desmet
Titus De Voogdt	...	Bogaert
Pol Goossen	...	Vader
Michel Bauwens	...	Oorarts
Koen De Sutter	...	Oogarts
Peter De Graef	...	Psychiater
An Van Gijsegem	...	Maaike
Jakob Beks	...	Leraar metaal

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...

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Plot Keywords:

faked death | bullying | imaginary friend | faked suicide | assisted suicide | 

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Taglines:

Every end is a beginning

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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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).

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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.

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Connections

Remade as IRL (2013)

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Soundtracks

Glad I'm Not God
Written by Praga Khan and CS Johansen
Performed by Lords of Acid
Published by BE's Songs

User Reviews

Great film, not too predictable

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!

Details

Official Sites:

Océan Films [France] Official site

Country:

Belgium Netherlands

Language:

Flemish Dutch

Release Date:

26 September 2007 (Belgium)

Also Known As:

Ben X

Filming Locations:

Brugge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium

Box Office

Budget:

EUR1,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$904, 26 October 2008

Gross USA:

$1,601

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,744,414

Company Credits

Production Co:

MMG Film & TV Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1