Ben X

Infobox Film
name = Ben X


caption = Theatrical release poster
director = Nic Balthazar
writer = Nic Balthazar
starring = Greg Timmermans
Laura Verlinden
Marijke Pinoy
producer = Peter Bouckaert
music = Praga Khan
cinematography = Lou Berghmans
editing = Philippe Ravoet
distributor = Film Movement LLC
Summit Entertainment
Alliance Films | budget =
released = flagicon|BEL 26 September 2007
runtime = 93 min.
country = Belgium
Netherlands
language = Dutch
imdb_id = 0953318

"Ben X" is a 2007 Belgian film about an autistic boy (played by Greg Timmermans) who retreats into the fantasy world of the MMORPG "ArchLord" to escape bullying. The film's title is a reference to the leet version of the Dutch phrase "(ik) ben niks", meaning "(I) am nothing".

The film won three awards at the 31st Montreal World Film Festival: the Grand Prix des Amériques, the Prix du Public for the most popular film, and the Ecumenical Jury Prize for its exploration of ethical and social values. It is based on the novel "Nothing is all he said" [http://www.vrtnieuws.net/cm/flandersnews.be/Flanders+Today/culture/070904_Balthazar] by Nic Balthazar, who also directed the film. The novel was inspired by the true story of an autistic boy who committed suicide because of bullying. [ [http://www.nieuwsblad.be/Article/Detail.aspx?articleID=dma14012005_022 Nic Balthazar's interview to the "Nieuwsblad" newspaper, 16/01/2005, in Dutch] ]

The movie was the Belgian entry for the Academy Awards 2007 in the category Best Foreign Language Film but failed to receive the actual nomination.

Plot

This film is mainly seen through Ben's (Greg Timmermans) point of view, especially with the frequent use of Ben's voiceover for narrating the story. It also uses flashbacks and sequences from Archlord (as an intercut), to parallel his real life with the sequences. Ben is a teenage boy who is being bullied at school very often. To escape his harsh reality of being bullied, he turns to his virtual world by playing a online game called Archlord. In his virtual world, he is more confident and brave. Moreover, he collaborates his adventures with another online user named Scarlite.

One day, Ben was being bullied again by his classmates. During the class break, the bullies have dragged Ben to the top of the table - only to have one of the classmates has pulled his pants down, with most students recording the incident on their phone camera. With cruel remarks and teasing from his classmates, Ben becomes humilated and frustrated that he smashed the window with a chair. Ben is immediately sent to the headmaster's office, where the headmaster tells Ben to explain the incident. Ben, however, does not speak at all, leaving the issue unresolved. During that scene, it has been revealed that Ben has been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, a milder form of autism. Things gets worse for Ben as the incident at the class gets posted on the internet. Feeling distraught about his life in general, Ben was even ready to leave his virtual world behind, where Ben tells Scarlite that he is ready to "endgame". Concerned, Scarlite sends a video message to Ben X (as Scarlite has no idea what Ben looks like) saying that there cannot be an endgame, unless there is a healer. Scarlite then tells Ben to meet her at the train station.

At the train station, Ben sees Scarlite, but does not go to her. Scarlite, assuming that Ben did not show up at all, goes to the train. However, this time, Ben follows Scarlite and goes in the train as well. Ben sits next to Scarlite, feeling nervous and excited at the same time. Just as the train approaches Brussels, Scarlite asks Ben if he is alright. Ben says "yes" and goes off, leaving Scarlite behind. Having not talked to Scarlite, Ben was contemplating suicide by jumping off the platform. As Ben was ready to jump, Ben was pulled back and it was revealed that Scarlite has pulled him back. Scarlite later tells Ben that he can choose to either give up and take his own life or take revenge and fight, just like he would in Archlord. But, to make the decision, he needs to devise a plan.

Ben (with Scarlite) asks his parents to help. Ben has decided to commit suicide by jumping off the ferry. He does so, and captures the suicide on tape. Afterwards, a funeral was held for Ben, with everybody, including the bullies being present. As the funeral went on, the video then changes to Ben and his speech (which seems like a suicide note video). In the video, the bullies are exposed (as well as the classmates involved) of what they have done to Ben that day of the incident. Then, to everyone's shock, it was revealed that Ben is alive, by his shadow seen over the video and Ben being seen from the projecting room. It turns out that Ben has chosen to take revenge on the bullies by faking his own suicide. It was revealed that as he jumped off the ferry, his parents has caught him at the lower deck, as part of the plan.

Afterwards, Ben, Scarlite, his mother and his brother are at the horse ranch in the country. The horse instructor shows Ben how to be friendly with the horse and tells him that "You must learn to feel, in order to feel good". Ben touches the horse gently, just as the instructor told him and feels happy. Ben then goes to Scarlite and chats to her. The horse instructor looks baffled, as it is revealed that Ben is actually talking to himself. Ben's mother then tells the horse instructor that everything is fine and Ben is happy.

Awards and nominations

References

ee also

*List of Belgian submissions for Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film

External links

* [http://www.fest21.com/node/film_trailer_for_ben_x Trailer for "Ben X"]
* [http://european-films.net/content/view/955/118/ "Ben X" film review] on european-films.net
* [http://www.benx.be/ Official site]
* [http://www.movieset.com/benx Ben X] on MovieSet.com
* [http://www.archlordgame.com/benx/ the Archlord website for the movie]