I managed to catch this as part of the NZ film festival and was interested in seeing it for a couple of reasons. Firstly I was interested in the gaming angle and the whole "escape reality online" scenario. Secondly I recently discovered that the feeling that I was just "wrong" that I've had all my life is in fact Aspergers Syndrome. Ironically for an Aspie, Ben X moved me like no other movie I can think of, a couple of time I almost burst into tears. It does a great job of portraying the everyday logistical nightmare that is "pretending to be normal" as well being misunderstood by most people in general, and also illustrates well some of the mental and physical traits that are part of an Aspies make up. I could identify with so many things in this movie, the sensitivity to detail, the overwhelming nature of the outside world and even overlaying a video game engine onto everyday situations. I felt validated by the film makers acknowledgements and portrayals of the Aspie ways.
I also identified with some of the very dark places the story takes you as well. The story sometimes skips between being a celebration of the Aspie way and an illustration of the dangerous road travelled with naivete that can be the Aspies journey. As already mentioned the film sets up some very dark avenues, making you aware of the potentials without actually showing them all to you. These situations are all too often only narrowly missed by people with Aspergers.
The acting was very good as was the attention to detail, the main character was portrayed very well (the actors debut by all accounts)and the story has a satisfying and heart rending conclusion...
If you like your movies raw with the meat of human experience then you owe it to yourself to see Ben X....
I also identified with some of the very dark places the story takes you as well. The story sometimes skips between being a celebration of the Aspie way and an illustration of the dangerous road travelled with naivete that can be the Aspies journey. As already mentioned the film sets up some very dark avenues, making you aware of the potentials without actually showing them all to you. These situations are all too often only narrowly missed by people with Aspergers.
The acting was very good as was the attention to detail, the main character was portrayed very well (the actors debut by all accounts)and the story has a satisfying and heart rending conclusion...
If you like your movies raw with the meat of human experience then you owe it to yourself to see Ben X....