IRL

IRL (In Real Life) is a film about the evils among teenagers in the world of social media. Elias will not escape his tormentors. They are everywhere, in school, on the subway and spew their hatred of him online. He flees into The Secret World, an online game with thousands of players where Elias accepts the Invincible Warrior S:]iles guise. In the game, he meets Sc4rlet, a talented and beautiful girl soldier. Together they conquer their violent digital world. Sc4rlet want to meet Elias IRL (In Real Life). Hesitantly he agrees to be seen but well at the meeting place, where a very ordinary girl standing, he dare not go forward. Elias realizes that he will never meet Sc4rlet and decides to take his life that night.

Directed by Erik Leijonborg, IRL leans on a strong ensemble — Valter Skarsgård, Happy Jankell, Alba August — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2013.