Ben X is a 2007 Belgian drama film directed by Nic Balthazar, based on his own novel. The film follows the story of a teenager named Ben, who suffers from Asperger's syndrome, a mild form of autism. He is constantly tormented by bullies in school, which leads him to seek refuge in a virtual world where he can be himself and escape the real world.
In the virtual world, Ben becomes a skilled player of the online game Archlord and befriends a girl named Scarlite. They fall in love and she becomes his emotional support and guide in the game. Together they hatch a plan to seek revenge against Ben's bullies in real life.
The film portrays Ben's struggles with autism, the bullying he faces, and his family's struggle to understand him. It also explores the effects of technology on interpersonal relationships, as well as the consequences of cyberbullying.
The film was highly acclaimed in Belgium and went on to win numerous awards, including the World Cinema Audience Award at the AFI Fest. It was also Belgium's official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 80th Academy Awards.
