The parents of Mats Steen, a 25-year-old young man with a degenerative muscular disease (Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy) who lived most of his life in a wheelchair, never expected to really “know” their son—until after he died. They had always lived with the pain knowing that Mats would not be able to nurture friendships, fall in love, or make an impact in others’ lives.
While mourning their son’s death and lifelong isolation and suffering, however, they were shocked to receive message after message from strangers who claim that their son was a light in their lives through an online gaming community “Starlight.” It was in this virtual world that Mats made meaningful friendships, fell in love, and became a light to others. At Mats’s funeral, his father shared the family’s realization that this resourceful young man had proven them wrong.
Presenting both the real-world life and virtual whereabouts of Mats Steen, this documentary uses a creative story-telling approach to show Mats’s pain and joy as well as the power of empathy. In the virtual world, Mats Steen adopted the identity of “Ibelin,” an able-bodied private detective who enjoyed running and took the initiative of getting to know people and listening to their stories. Although Mats was deprived of all these activities in the real world, he devoted all his energy to building this virtual community. He not only made friends, but helped others heal wounds in their real lives.
Even in the virtual world, Ibelin also experienced setbacks when he had to share real-world vulnerabilities with other gamers. The community finally came to know Mats Steen for who he was and surrounded him with acceptance and love. At Mats’s funeral, five members of this virtual community showed up and shared their gratitude for having had “Ibelin” in their lives. Despite his disease and short-lived life, Mats Steen showed the strength and richness of the human spirit that can flourish in and contribute to a beloved community. (Netflix; Rated PG-13 for brief strong language.)
About the Author
Mary Li Ma is a member of Plymouth Heights CRC church in Grand Rapids, Mich. She holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University and now works as a research analyst for a national research center on education equity.