Film Lens
We Can Be Heroes is a 2024 documentary directed by Carina Mia Wong and Alex Simmons, focusing on children attending a live action role-playing summer camp in upstate New York. The film features three main kids: Cloud, who enjoys swordplay; Dexter, a fantasy novelist with a crush; and Abby, a recent high school graduate with health complications. The narrative begins with their personal stories before they arrive at The Wayfinder Experience camp, where they engage in a role-playing game called 'The Last Green'.
The campers, many of whom are neurodivergent, participate in activities that include practicing feigning death, which some find cathartic. Over the course of two days, they immerse themselves in the game, breaking character at the end of each day to decompress. The film captures their experiences, fears, and triumphs, particularly focusing on how they bond and support each other throughout the camp activities.
Why Watch
- •See kids at a unique live action role-playing camp.
- •Meet Cloud, Dexter, and Abby as they share their stories.
- •Find out how campers bond through role-playing games.
Did You Know
•The film won a special jury award for bravery and empathy at SXSW 2024.
•90% of 10 critics' reviews on Rotten Tomatoes are positive.
•Abby graduated high school after surviving severe health complications.
•The film has a duration of 86 minutes.
Perfect For
Live action role-playingYouth empowermentNeurodiversity awareness