[Movie Review] Ben X

Title: Ben X

Starring: Greg Timmermans, Laura Verlinden, Marijke Pinoy

Rating: 8.3/10





"Show, don’t just tell” is a well-known principle that is easier said than done. Ben X, a 2007 Belgian-Dutch film directed by Nic Balthazar, is an embodiment of this principle; this movie effectively “shows” things that could sound like clichés if they were directly explained. However, because this film does not “tell” much, it does not provide a conclusive answer to the questions it raises.

This film is about a boy called Ben (Greg Timmermans) who suffers from Asperger syndrome, a disorder similar to autism. Because of his abnormality, he is severely bullied in his school. However, in the online game ArchLord, he is well respected because his game level is very high. He always plays the game with a female online user called Scarlite.

This movie conveys Ben’s Asperger syndrome by using various devices. Hypersensitivity, one of the symptoms of Asperger syndrome, is portrayed when certain sounds, such as the sound of Ben’s mother pouring orange juice, are amplified and when the camera close-ups certain body parts, such as the eye or the mouth. Furthermore, his awkward language and gesture tells the audience that he has some kind of disorder. Although the movie briefly tells that Ben has Asperger syndrome, these “clues” of this syndrome clearly shows that he is not normal. If the movie just told that “Ben is an autistic boy,” this would have sounded like a complete cliché. This film avoids such cliché by ingeniously showing the symptoms of the syndrome.

Ben X also shows that Ben cannot distinguish reality and game by juxtaposing game scene and reality. For example, when he recalls the death cross, a weapon in ArchLord, while seeing a crucifix in reality, a weapon slot of ArchLord appears beside him remodeling a crucifix into a weapon. Furthermore, while he is bullied on the bench, he makes a parallel of his situation to a game scene. These juxtapositions effectively show that Ben blurs reality and game, a situation which could have been a cliché when directly stated.

Beside from effectively conveying Ben’s characteristics, this film deals with many issues, such as autism, computer game addiction and bullying. The word play in the title of the film, “Ben X” as “Ben niks,” which means “I am nothing,” also raises a serious question; if one does not tell anything to others, does that individual become “nobody?” This film raises many questions by dealing with many complex issues, but it does not provide a definite answer.

All in all, this film is thought-provoking. It uses clever, if not fresh, means to show that Ben suffers from Asperger syndrome and a blurring of game and reality. These devices make the audience capable of sympathizing with the main character, and this persuasive description about Ben leaves some space to think. Moreover, the film throws a lump of worthy questions.