Docu: We Met in Virtual Reality

We Met in Virtual Reality is a documentary shot entirely in VRChat that takes an intimate look at love and friendship in the metaverse.

The film follows a group of people leading a second, digital life on the new social VR platform Metaverse. The film focuses on two couples who met in virtual reality, get to know each other there and prepare for a physical encounter, as well as Jenny, an American Sign Language teacher who wants to create a place for deaf people in VRChat.

The documentary explores themes of self-expression, identity, attraction, grief and mental health at a time when the metaverse is still in its infancy, a peculiar niche and haven for social misfits.

Love and community in times of pandemic

We Met in Virtual Reality celebrated its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January. The documentary was shot by young British filmmaker Joe Hunting, who has been filming in VR since 2018 and says he spent most of the pandemic in virtual reality.

"I captured stories that shed light on the way we can connect, express ourselves and find community online in a time when our physical lives were much more restricted," said the documentary filmmaker at the film's launch.

We Met in Virtual Reality: Critics full of praise

The VR documentary is very well received by film critics: At Rottentomatoes We Met in Virtual Reality currently has a score of 93 per cent.

Robert Daniels from RogerEbert.com writes about the VR documentary: "Joe Hunting's original and touching documentary delves into the social VR universe and captures how technology provides comfort, accessorisation and love in an era of discomfort". Esther Zuckerman of Thrillist praises the range of digital spaces shown and the honesty of the human portraits. "Joe Hunting has made a gentle, moving documentary about love, friendship and people finding a place where they can be themselves," writes Jonathan Romney of Screen International.

Source: Mixed