VIFF Review: Beyond the Game

Beyond the Game

OPENING: 10/06/2009 (VIFF)

STUDIO: Films Transit Intl.

RUN TIME: 75 min

ACCOMPLICES: , Official Site

The Charge
The battle between two living legends.

Opening Statement
The popular image of the gamer is usually limited to two stereotypes: the skinny, awkward nerd; or the fat, socially maladjusted basement shut-in. This documentary from the Netherlands takes a different approach, viewing its protagonists as something akin to professional athletes. They don’t have to push their bodies to the limit like real athletes, but there is a certain intensity and dedication when big sponsorship dollars are on the line.

Facts of the Case
The online game World of Warcraft boasts more than ten million inhabitants, but how many can call themselves professional gamers? How many bags of cheezy-poofs would you have to ingest before you’re ready to challenge the world’s best? The documentary Beyond the Game follows two formidable Warcraft III players, leading up to their big confrontation at the 2007 World Cyber Games competition.

The Evidence
Director Jos de Putter’s quiet, observational manner captures an intimate portrait of his subjects without casting any judgments. Whatever we might think of someone who dedicates himself to perfecting his gaming, it’s hard to deny that these players put serious effort into their vocation. Chinese player Sky devotes 12 hours each day to his game. Coming from a humble village life, Sky is making big money doing something his parents can’t quite fathom. Dutch player Grubby always has the game on his mind, factoring in how much time he can play before he has to run to the bus stop. When apartment hunting with his girlfriend, he is more concerned about the building’s Internet connection speed than the size of the bathroom. Seeing the intense focus that Sky and Grubby have for their craft, you can’t help but feel a little uneasy they’ve put so much effort into a skill with no direct real-world application. Though it’s never mentioned, the sponsorship and prize monies must be substantial, as the pressure to be the best at exercising such a specific skill is immense.

At the World Cyber Games, swarms of fans treat these players like celebrities. When Grubby quietly takes a seat at a gaming parlor to get some practice time, he’s immediately recognized. The film mostly foregoes the usual screen shots of game footage, to observe the real-world activity during the matches. As the stadium crowd sits with their eyes glued to the big monitors, the camera lets us watch the players pulling the electronic strings. Fingers dance furiously over the keyboards, as we hear the tap of plastic keys, the scrap of a mouse over the desktop, the whirring of the CPU fans, and the breathing of young men engaged in virtual combat. The camera patiently takes it all in, ignoring the animated pixels all other eyes are focused upon. It’s an unexpected method of presenting the “big game” moment, until you realize these are the only real physical actions taking place.

Closing Statement
This isn’t your typical look at video games, but these aren’t your typical video game nerds. They’re the best Warcraft III players in the world and that appears to account for a lot in this particular subculture. The film gives us a glimpse of life as a professional game player, and reveals it isn’t all that fun.

The Verdict
7/10

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