Customer Reviews

Ben X

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Descend into the nightmare that autism and mob thinking must be. And accept people that are different as simply being different, not some side show act.

This is director Nic Balthazar's first movie. Let me repeat, this is Nic Balthazar's first movie he has ever made. He is the author of the novel on which this film was based. There are directors that are on their 10th film that haven't yet come close to accomplishing what Balthazar has in this first film.

There is so much to say about this film, and yet little should be said. The film opens with credits over ArchLord, a video game by Codemasters. This is the first time this reviewer has ever seen a computer game depicted so perfectly in film. It turns out the director collaborated closely with Codemasters to get the game perfect. It even includes the occaisional frame drop jump seen all high detail computer video games. The credits are shown in action boxes, clicked on by an accurate gloved hand.

It takes some time to realize that Ben has autism, it's clear something isn't 100% normal about him. The initial clues are snap to extreme close ups of objects that Ben hears and sees. There are scenes of the veins in leaves, hair follicles, and eyes moving. All intercut with blurry views of the rest of the world. The sound is at times deafening. This is the beginning of the descent into, what must be, the nightmare Ben sees every single day. This intercutting technique is not overused and is carried throughout the film.

This film has a unique style that is consistent throughout. Another intercut device is interviews with other characters in the film. The interviews are done face to camera, much like a television show (think of the Office, but these people are not being funny) or documentary. These people are also interviewed after the story has taken place, they are relecting on what has happened. They add a foreboding to the story. A teacher says, "I should have seen this. I should have helped. But what can you do?" These snipits are revealed perfectly through the story.

The key message from this film, people battle with their demons. Ben's demon is autism and people treating him very badly. Instead of staring, we should find ways to accept those people. To not see the differences, just see a person.

Please see this film. It is marvelous. It's not easy to watch. But in the end, you will be very pleased that you did watch this film.

If the MPAA rated this, it's very likely it would R rated. There is no nudity, well except the scene where Ben has his pants pulled down and his naked behind is very visible. There really isn't much harsh language. There is some violence, mostly kids treating Ben badly. There is a fair amount of discussion about suicide. The film in the rest of the world was rated for older than 12, 13, 14, and 15 (pick your country).

In Dutch with English subtitles, which can be turned off. There is no English soundtrack. The English had a wonderful rythmn to it, so I'm assuming the translation is very good.

This is a Film Movements release. These discs are very deep with extras. In many ways, Film Movement is to DVD as to what Critereon was to LaserDisc. They have pushed the envelope for small independent film that matters. And they care about film deeply.

Incredibly smart and moving story of an autistic student in Belgium. He's bullied and hounded nearly to suicide by his classmates before he gets help from a girl and his family. High production values on a tiny budget helped out by a tie-in to a real S.Korean video game. Top notch writing and acting. This gem left the sophisticated audience at the Palm Springs International Film Festival applauding.

The 2008 SIFF had a ton of great movies, but Ben X stood above all. Intense and wonderfully constructed, this film takes us into a world of autism and teen age cruelty. Brilliantly told, this film will keep you riveted and uncomfortably squirming from beginning to end.

If you or someone you know is dealing with Aspergers or just autism - understanding, bullying, suicide - this should be required viewing! A fairly edgy and dark movie, it shows just what we autistics must endure from people - the stress, failure in communication - and where it can push us. It also shows how you can be creative in finding the way out. This movie brings me to deep tears recalling many of my horrible past experiences but lights a fire under me that forces me to go on and win in the end. I can't say enough! Buy it! Watch it! This is an incredible movie!

A few months ago I started watching movies released in Film Movement's continuing library of foreign and indie movies, and I happen to pick this one up recently.

"Ben X" (93 min,; originaly released in Belgium in 2007) brings the story of a high school teenager who gets bullied relentlessly by his classmates for being 'different' (later it is revealed that Ben has autism, specifically Asperger Syndrome). Ben finds solace by playing on-line gamaes, in which his avatar is Ben X, a strong and confident hero. After a dramatic incident at school that is later posted on the internet, Ben is so humiliated that he is contemplating taking his own life. You'll have to see it for yourself how it all pays out.

I thought this was a terrific movie, even if several bullying scenes are incredibly hard to watch. But the interplay between the real world and the on-line gaming world is done very cleverly and visually rich. Outstanding performances by Greg Timmermans as Ben and Marijke Pinoy as his mom. Being from Belgium (Flanders, specifically), I admit to feeling a certain amount of pride that someone in Flanders was able to make a thoroughly original and emotionally hard-hitting movie. Highly recommended!

The films centers around a teenager with autism (Asperger Syndrome to be more specific) that has to fight his extraordinary life in order to fit socially I an ordinary world, beyond autism, themes such as school bullying, and violence as well as suicide, and social reactions to underdogs are covered in this beautifully crafted cinematic story. This is one of those oddly feel good films that will leave you entertained, but also with a plenty of ideas about life , existence , and the way we as human interact with each others , to reflect upon. I believe every parent show introduce their adolescent children to this film at their on discretion, in a way to help them reflect on how to be better social individuals.

Ben is a deeply disturbed teenager with severe Asbergers Syndrome: "There was always something wrong with me," he says. He's a loner in the real world who loses himself as a gamer in the online virtual world. His teachers are empathetic but stymied. Doctors have their theories but offer no practical help. Ben's distraught parents are beside themselves. Much of the film is about the harassment and humiliation Ben receives at school. When one of these despicable episodes is filmed with a cell phone and uploaded to the internet, Ben plots his "endgame." His online virtual friend, a young girl named Scarlite, insists upon helping him as his "healer." And so they meet in real life and devise their revenge. "Every night you pray to God that things will work out and be OK," laments his father. The improbable end of this film suggests that Ben's "problem" is not so much a problem for him, but a problem for and even caused by others who won't accept him for who he is. "BenX" was Belgium's entry for best foreign film at the 2008 Academy Awards. In Flemish with English subtitles.

I am blown away that this movie was not picked up by local movie theaters. I think there are alot of people these days who can relate to the main character and autism is not so "known" anymore that we are scrating our heads. We can relate to him. And for those of you who have never heard of autism, don't worry, there are creative "inserts" of information right where it's helpful. Not only that but the experiences of these characters really wake you up and are engaging. This is not just a flick for people trying to understand the experiences autism. I could watch this on a satuday night over and over again.

A Belgium story of a mental man-among-teens (or all they are the same-it is hard to understand as actors look too mature for school folks?) incorporates interesting ideas of a virtual space as a new living demention of the new millennium and a degree of idiocy oncoming generations should acquire to be modern citizens.

It is not Julien Donkey-Boy but a happy-end story of a bulled pupil, suicide staged and coming back.

So-so.

A study of a tortured teen with Asperberger's syndrome, Ben is bullied and mistreated
by his peers, and since his divorced parents are pretty clueless, he retreats into an on
line role-playing fantasy game, where he has won the heart of a female player.

Greg Timmerman is is excellent in the lead, but also looks a little old for the role,
which takes something away from the reality, and heartbreak of the film.
Most of the supporting performances are very good as well.

The film captures the trauma of adolescence, honestly and brutally.

(possible mild semi-spoiler ahead!)

But the documentary like interviews are ultimately setting us up for a twist ending that
is weirdly satisfying but also a huge cheat and let down at the same time. It feels good,
but makes all the raw emotion of the film up to that point feel a bit copped out on.

None-the-less, there is some very inventive filmmaking here, and the film is rarely less
than riveting. It just seems that, sadly, it adds up to a bit less than the sum of its parts.