Friday, November 13: 6:00 pm

A lone warrior crosses a landscape through an opaque veil of snowflakes. Another lays waste to a small village. Yet another stands on a mound surrounded by the enemy, preparing to take them on. These characters populate the cyberspace of Warcraft III, a video game embraced by ten million players around the world. But the real action is not on the computer screen. The real action, as Dutch filmmaker Jos de Putter shows us, takes place on the faces and fast-clicking fingers of the young male players who compete professionally on a growing international circuit. Using a traditional narrative structure, de Putter slows down the action and renders this unusual world familiar to outsiders, casting the contenders in a story of all-or-nothing competition between players in their prime. Perfecting their technique, strategizing new approaches, and fussing over equipment, “Sky” from China and “Grubby” from the Netherlands try to maintain their focus, hanging on to old glories and seeking out new ones before time runs out. Long-suffering girlfriends, adoring fans, and disapproving parents all make appearances, completing the picture. This game may be new, but the story is as old as drama itself.