Man At War

HBO's documentary directed by Jacek Bławut puts the spotlight on men fascinated by World War Two who pursue their passion in the realm of computer games. Following players and their lives, the director is inquiring if are we witnessing the rise of a new type of human – homo virtualis? IL-2 Sturmovik is one of the most popular computer flight simulators. Players put themselves in the shoes of WW2 airplane pilots and take part in aerial battles in real time. Some see their passion as a hobby, but for many of them it has become the essence of their life. Games consume most of their time at the expense of social contacts and get-togethers. Friends from the virtual squadron replace their real friends. Together they complete training courses, and regularly meet during rallies. An important part of their life are virtual enemies – plane pilots from other countries. Jacek Bławut presents players from several countries – the US, Poland, Germany and Russia. He gives us an insight into their background and inquires why they have taken such great interest in the WW2 period. Simultaneous footage depicting all players who are taking part in the virtual battle reflects heated emotions sparked by the game. Jacek Bławut is a seasoned documentary-maker (Rat in the Crown, Cinematographer) and director of photography (Decalogue, The Day of the Wacko), a member of the European Film Academy. His movies were screened at festivals in San Sebastian, Toronto, Budapest and Mannheim. (official distributor synopsis)