SXSW Review: Rodney Ascher’s Ghost Boy is a Profound and Touching Documentary Exploring the Experience of Feeling Trapped

      Directed by Rodney Ascher, noted for his horror-oriented documentaries such as Room 237 and The Nightmare, Ghost Boy examines its subject, Martin Pistorius, often through a lens similar to that of his previous work, A Glitch in the Matrix: trapped in a perpetual loop that hints at a life simulation. In 1988, when he was twelve, Pistorius inexplicably fell ill with a sore throat. His health rapidly declined, resulting in his inability to walk or feed himself. Initially, his family rallied around him with supportive slumber parties, but they soon became overwhelmed. What began as a seemingly normal childhood in South Africa was abruptly transformed, ultimately leading to his placement at the Alfa and Omega Special Care Centre, where he was neglected, abandoned, and mistreated by the staff.

      Like A Glitch in the Matrix and Julian Schnabel’s The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Ghost Boy delves into existential inquiries about the experience of living as a ghost or observer, unable to express oneself despite a desperate urge to scream. However, similar to Bauby, Pistorius eventually learns to communicate and published his best-selling book in 2011, which inspired the film's title.

      Ghost Boy has an intimate, innovative format, primarily focusing on a lengthy interview with Pistorius as he communicates with the filmmaker through a computer-generated voice while typing. He reflects on his early childhood, the illness that shattered his body, and the emotional strain his condition placed on his loving family, leading to their tough decision to place him in a care facility. He shares his feelings of death and the sensation of floating through life. Even in his challenging state, he remains fully aware, though initially unable to communicate effectively—he loses part of his memory, which he gradually reconstructs from family scrapbooks and home videos.

      Life in the care home is harsh, with staff treating residents as less than human. It isn't until a compassionate nurse named Virna begins working at Alfa and Omega that Martin gains the tools to escape from his confinement. He describes the awakening he experiences as Virna offers aromatherapy massages and engages in conversation with the residents, creating a sense of human connection that was previously absent from his care. As a teenager, he was subjected to endless reruns of children’s shows like Barney & Friends. Ultimately, it is Virna who helps Martin, as new diagnostic approaches develop alongside enhanced communication tools, demonstrated when he is evaluated and successfully identifies symbols.

      Through recreated scenes designed by David Offner and Jeanine Ringer, as well as extensive interviews with Martin, Ghost Boy interrogates philosophical questions regarding the experience of observing life without the ability to communicate. Ascher, an unusual choice for this film, directs it with remarkable sensitivity and attention to detail, as Martin shares the sensation of having all the time in the world before regaining his capacity for communication.

      In the care home, Martin feels isolated yet observant, absorbing the staff’s secrets while also developing an interest in what most teenage boys desire: affection and intimacy with the opposite sex. Despite his challenges, he gets to experience these feelings extensively, recounting his sex education through a computer tablet and the emotional journey he undertakes when he first encounters heartbreak.

      Ghost Boy had its world premiere at SXSW 2025.