a film about my grandparents

A documentary I shot while visiting my grandparents.
I hadn't seen them in 5 years, last time I also shot a documentary - • Hugh and Gloria
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[@erich1394]

I love how they leave their phone off the hook and out of the room when they choose to spend uninterrupted time together on the couch. I also appreciate that they've given themselves space to process their own mortality via their shared gravestone. It's inspiring to see your grandparents enjoy watching and interacting with the fox. It really seems like they've chosen to focus on what matters most to them - I aspire to do the same in my life. Your plain sincerity as a filmmaker is always refreshing!

[@socialsiege]

what a sweet comment

[@lukeman4566]

Beautifully put, Jesus loves you all, take care of yourself ❤️

[@vanitymarks8798]

the stillness of two people just living their life...plus a fox.

[@ComedyBros5]

No kiddin. This video has endless rewatch value because of the peacefulness it instills in your soul. It’s impossible to find any people better than grandparents!

[@msbradley9]

I don't know why exactly, but i love how natural this film feels. No gags, no reason, just a day in the life of your grandparents. It brings me down to earth in a way that doesn't make me feel anxious.

[@CantTellYou]

Playing games at the dinner table, feeding wild animals, reading & napping... this is all of our grandparents even if we don’t know it Made me feel some thingies for sure, RIP to all the amazing grandparents we’ve lost

[@arnijulian6241]

​@@CantTellYou Not my grand parents. My Grand father was on his 4th wife before he kicked the bucket & went through about 2 dozen mistresses. He was dodgy never relaxing till the day the forth heart attack took him. My grandmother she was a very meticulous controlling women that her 2nd husband/my step grandfather when along with calm as ever while she directed the forces never still nor content. She always had work to be done as an accountant till death as well as other hobbies & professions Some retire & grow old but some carry on till one day they croak. The pace of people varies greatly & depends largely on the nations/regions social norms! In Britain especially England you can relaxes when you are dead as work never ceases & hence why few like myself as I value my time only working when the pay is ample as an Engineer-fabricator preferring my interests till my health failed giving me to much free time.

[@Phriedah]

The shot of the trim over the door is what did it for me. That kind of thing you'd never see in a video, but absolutely notice in person. It's like i could smell that room.

[@resileaf9501]

No words, only infinite love. That's all I needed.

[@brennanroy7842]

it actually makes me feel anxious. Being old is hard to imagine. Living life with your body and mind operating at like 60% capacity/capability and just kind of playing out the string of one's golden years is definitely sad in a way. And sadness makes me anxious

[@John-b8n4z]

Thank you Joel. My grandfather passed away this week and all the feelings have been a lot. But this video made me feel at peace for just a moment

[@jenniferbauman]

I hope your grieving is swift and you always remember him. Sending healing vibes ❤

[@dandylionwine]

I lost my grandfather late last year. It's been hard not having him there. My deepest condolences to you.

[@Joel-Haver]

I'm sorry for your loss, grief is love that has no place to go, your hurting is a reflection of that love you shared. I wish you well, I'm happy I could provide you a moment of peace

[@judebiwer5439]

@@Joel-Haverthat is such a beautiful way to put it.

[@Under2077]

When you are with someone for such a long amount of time, words are no longer needed

[@ВадимНечунаев-л2о]

Or maybe there's no words left to say.

[@Under2077]

@@ВадимНечунаев-л2о touché

[@veenoir1991]

​@user-sb5fm1gk7l maybe for some. My wife and I have loved eachother since we were 12. We're 34 and married for almost 15 years. We spend hours talking, but we also spend a lot of time cruising together or just hiking and not talking. But the bond is there. Sometimes words aren't needed.

[@jenniferbauman]

A lovely sentiment

[@flippybird2747]

Yes. At that point, the hatred is palpable

[@spicedandy7370]

The scene @ 1:43 unexpectedly gave me incredible nostalgia for my own grandmother's home. Not the knickknacks on the window, but specifically the lighting. Her house was never very well lit, but also not really dark either. A kind of eternal twilight permeated through the house, as if each room was lit by ambient light. I find it such a contrast compared to the sharp bright white of my own home, and I miss it dearly. Thanks for the video Joel.

[@CraftsmanOfAwsomenes]

For whatever reason today the style is to have ultra bright houses that look like they are designed for mannequins to live in instead of humans for some reason. You don't see many properly comfy dark hobbit hole-like abodes these days. They give me a sense of comfort that a bright white house could never.

[@Ingrid922]

@@CraftsmanOfAwsomenes I hate bright lights! I keep the lights bright enough to see of course, just not ugly bright. Prefer lamps also, except in a few places but still not too many. I would love a hobbit hole!

[@Ingrid922]

I miss my Grandma, and her house and yard too. Our Grandfather died when my mom was pregnant with my older brother, so none of us ever got to meet him.. She lived the longest of my three grandparents, to 103. I miss my other grandparents too of course.

[@brendandor]

It's all about lamps and indirect lighting, there is a meme atm of people hating on the mainlight haha. It doesn't take a lot to make a space cozy, just a few lamps with warm colour temps and it'll change things. Also bright blue white lights are bad for your sleep cycle! Shouldn't be used in the evenings.

[@user-lt2rw5nr9s]

My grandma had one pointed out at the backyard above the kitchen sink. So nostalgic

[@OlyChickenGuy]

Their smiles when the fox comes to visit are priceless.

[@d.s.parentsr6502]

My great grandpa was born in 1906. One of my earliest childhood memories is of him watching boxing at 93 years old.

[@myth0genesis]

My grandpa used to let me use his belly as a punching bag while teaching me to box from his armchair when I was really little. He used to call me Slingshot, and when I got too big to punch his belly, he started calling me Buckshot.

[@timopper5488]

@@myth0genesis That’s so cool!

[@timopper5488]

What a great memory to have. ❤️

[@sleepyheadbeats4352]

@@lancefromwa1843boxing and westerns are basically my first memories with my grandfather haha

[@TrentLenkarski]

Such a beautiful film Joel ❤

[@Joel-Haver]

Thanks Trent

[@ShellShock11C]

Oh, hi Trent. How was your day?

[@tenderlemon3318]

Love ya Trent, hope you had/have a good relationship with your granparents too.

[@Haxus9]

This is genuinely so sweet omg

[@TippyHippy]

I put my hamster in a sock and slammed it against the furniture

[@33niboR]

@@TippyHippymood

[@Bleargghhhh]

Hey do you guys like random humor?!@@TippyHippy

[@tenderlemon3318]

​@@TippyHippy......????

[@MEAT_CANNON]

I'm 33 and I don't have any grandparents left. Cherish them while they are here. I have the strangest urge to hug your grandparents and tell them how happy I am that they are still here. There's so much you can learn from them.

[@crossxfuse]

i'm the same age and don't have any left either. it's a strange feeling not having any left, but it's even sadder for the parents

[@Zet237yt]

I am 34 now. I’ve lost my last remaining grandparent in 2016. It was my grandmother and I had visited her frequently to help her clean her floor’s staircase and always had a tea afterwards to just chat. Today I realize, there are so many topics that I would love to talk with her about that I never even thought about back then. Try to learn as much as you can from your grandparents while they are still around.

[@dundeecake]

Meh, depends on your relationship with your grandparents. Colonialism, war on one side, complicit white ignorance on the other for me.

[@pianoplaynight]

I'm 30 and don't have grandparents and one parent is gone as well since years. 😔 Always cherish time with loved ones cause you never know when they're gone.

[@EricGranata]

Never knew my grandparents. The version of grandparents that I did know didn’t offer much in the way of wisdom or relationship. If you have them, you’re lucky. Don’t take it for granted.

[@TheSquirrelbeast]

Show don't tell in its finest expression. You can feel their loss, their love, their tenderness, their comfort and togetherness. And also their personality, the cups, the MMA, the sewing, the furniture worn down by grandpa laying his feet while resting with grandma. There's so much being said, and underneath the love you feel for them, a love that allows you to see and appreciate all those little gestures. Perfect ending too, grandpa's smile, grandma busy in the background, the fox, you with a camera and us the spies.

[@agiar2000]

I wish everyone in their old age had the option to live a quiet, relaxing, secure life like this.

[@THEMANWITHTHEYELLOWHAT.]

Indeed I'm surprised this hasn't gotten noticed more

[@TheTalentlessWriter]

The sequel we needed but don’t deserve

[@behelit1997]

Yes

[@Assassn-ey6uq]

This is my favorite form of documentary. No voice in the background, just ambient noise alongside the camera shots. It portrays a deep story without a single word being spoken. You're amazing at creating these shots.

[@zsauffi]

Im on the same page with you. This is a masterpiece.

[@CardboardBots]

Really good attention to sound on this. The page turning was so crisp and clear.

[@AngusLindsay]

I love this style of documentary, just letting static shots tell the story

[@Wizards_with_Guns]

Such a cozy feeling, especially when I saw the kitchen

[@jenniferbauman]

Wizards love kitchens

[@Cortalpsychmajor]

Joel's make up and acting in this one was amazing, I actually believed he was an old man. It was truly incredible.

[@bannanaboy8]

Trent really nailed the role of Joel's grandma!

[@BlueBoy0]

he was the fox

[@janesvirtualworld]

Nice political map score

[@Komaeda_kura]

I lost my Grandmother too early. I was 12 years old when she passed. I think about her a lot, think of what she would have thought of me, her opinions on current events, the things she would say about my fashion, how proud she would be of who I am now. I’m glad you are so close with your Grandparents. Thank you. It’s nice to reflect.

[@Sartaku]

I lost my grandmother around that age, too. I think about her daily and wonder how different it would've been if she was still here today. I recently lost my grandfather so I hope they found each other again.

[@redcell9636]

I just lost mine two weeks ago. I understand your pain.

[@dayegilharno4988]

Thank you for sharing. I lost all my grandparents within only 3 years at around that age... This vid and your comment helped remind me of the void that has left, without me even learning the "language" to describe it!

[@baddreams4368]

both my grandfathers died long before I was born, and my grandma on my mom’s side died recently. Also they have lived in Liberia so I barely got to see em

[@resileaf9501]

My own grandmother has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a couple months ago, and she's probably going to pass away before the end of the year. She has lived long... But it still feels too soon.

[@matthewcarter5615]

When life gets so hectic its nice to know it can slow down when you enter the more experienced phase of your life. I felt so calm experiencing this amazing cinematograophy.

[@chefgoldblum8446]

Never clicked so fast on a video about someone’s grandparents

[@AVA-StupidLN]

🥉

[@meatntatersthepotroastguy]

Same

[@BornNHawaii]

💯

[@The_Slammy_Jammy]

amen ❤🎉

[@minipily1841]

never clicked on a video abt someone grandparents

[@thevoidanswerswithjazz2215]

Makes me miss my grandparents. This tells such a story, I love it, thanks Joel.

[@reldey3900]

Between the comedy its nice to have some genuine moments like these, thanks for sharing Joel

[@PurposelessRabbitholes]

you got a real talent for finding the magic in everyday life, brother

[@zonderafspraak]

Reminds me so much of my grandparents. You'll no doubt cherish this film for the rest of your life, Joel. I wish I had one just like it for my grandparents, and my parents, too.

[@Shartinstyle]

Your grandparents seem like the most normal people, but the smallest details in this video shows they are extremely kind, considerate, and deeply thinking people. The gravestone scene was powerful. I’ve lost both sets of grandparents and loved the energy that this film gave off. It was like a warm bowl of soup for the soul. Thanks Joel.

[@theoian]

Props to the framing on this video. Finding the beauty in the simple and slow is extremely hard. Both of the shots of just their feet as they were taking a nap was so sweet.

[@yourfriendlukejackson]

This is beautiful. It feels so personal yet distant. The shots and the silence make me feel a bit like I’m a ghost who is joyfully observing those that I love and simultaneously wishing not to disturb them. I feel like I have the point of view of them that they will one day have of you, Joel.

[@stevenfreebairn2553]

I'm 31, and lost my last grandparent about a year ago. There's something so simple, reverent and stoic about that generation, and you've captured it beautifully.

[@chrisluyk]

Joel, you see the world in a unique and beautiful way and making these films I believe helps others, even for a moment, see the world in the way that you do. Thank you and thanks to your grandparents for sharing a moment of their lives with us.

[@slackstarfish8133]

It is so amazing how this man can go from making comedy videos to real, wholesome videos like this in the blink of an eye.

[@mspaint93]

This reaonates so hard in very small family after my grandmother lost her son. I'm gonna call her now.

[@smaza2]

i lost my last grandparent recently and i'm feeling a bunch of stuff about this film. this video is beautiful and i hope you can look back on it forever

[@redcell9636]

So did I, I understand that all too well right now.

[@lordcecilix]

No words, but mountains of emotion and feeling conveyed. You're a true master. And I say this with the utmost sincerity. I'm jealous of what your grandparents have. Looks simple and fulfilling.

[@Pterodactylphenylalanine]

This makes me feel such regret that I don’t have many home movies at all. Even if I just keep them for myself, it’d still be great to have to watch when we no longer have those people in the movies with us here on earth.

[@Quathryn]

I can feel the love that was put into preserving these moments. What a beautiful treasure this is

[@bilbobaguette]

You just distilled the essence of a significant fraction of my childhood. Thank you for sharing and reminding me of so many memories.

[@lazarett0]

I wish I had made something like this when my grandparents were still alive. I love this, Thank you Joel c:

[@GrahamCain]

The shot revealing the phone off the hook while they're napping was a cinematic masterpiece 👌

[@SpecKev800]

Joel's documentary style films are hugely underrated. He's so good at getting incredibly candid and personal responses and actions out of people, while filming in a way that is both visually captivating while feeling natural and intimate. I love when he films himself or others discussing topics or being interviewed, and films like this where it is a "fly on the wall" look into the lives of ordinary people.

[@AmbientCinematics]

Thankyou Joel, this helped slow down my thoughts for the morning 😊 and reminded me of my grandparents who live a country life down here in Australia - playing Yahtzee, feeding animals and sitting outside taking in nature; it’s the simple pleasures!

[@ethanwilkins8125]

Just left for school after my grandmas funeral. There’s something nice about the quiet company that family can bring. Great work man.

[@crackedupmonk]

The most wholesome view of our elders generation. Sometimes it’s hard to remember the beauty of them, when I’m so focused on their shortcomings. It’s the hardest part of growing up in my mind. You’ve done beautifully sir. Thank you for sharing.

[@triigrr3644]

It’s great seeing your level of dedication to your craft Joel. You’ll always have my support, keep up the good work p.s that fox interaction was sickeningly wholesome

[@CantTellYou]

If I live long enough, I hope to be just chillin on the porch as a fox with a human feeding me

[@triigrr3644]

@@CantTellYou good luck in all your endeavors, foxes are great

[@ObsidianStriker]

There's a feeling this film emotes that I have trouble placing a finger on; a sense of tranquility, nostalgia and love, tempered like steel.

[@RigbyMadewell]

i lost my grandma just yesterday, and all i could think about while watching this was her. Thank you for this beautiful tribute❤

[@jamisonparker7504]

Beautiful. Lovely. Joel, you make the world a brighter place.

[@rationsofladyfingers]

Beautiful homage to your grandparents, Joel. Thank you for sharing them with us. Reminds me of my own grandparents and how much I miss them. You're lucky to still have yours. Continue to cherish them.

[@usmcplu]

You don't know how important this is, and here's why. I was not a huge fan of my grandparents or their small place. It was always hot and hazy with cigarette smoke. My grandfather wasn't talkative nor a mentor in any way, and my grandmother was loving but...a product of her era. There was nothing inherently bad or evil about the place, just not a place I wanted to be. UNTIL, I couldn't be there any more because they passed away rather abruptly. Now I dream about the place regularly and wake up planning to go back. Seconds later I realize I can't. I'm not sure the dollar amount I'd pay for a video like this to exist, but it's definitely in the thousands. Thank you for sharing with us. This is video will endlessly appreciate for you and I'm so happy for you in that regard.

[@jenniferbauman]

Wow! This must be your submission for thr True Self Film Fest, it's absolutely stunning. I love grandparents. I've been hanging out with mine recently. ❤ Much love!

[@oleyb123]

This was beautiful, and had me feeling a wide range of emotions. Grandpa sitting in a chair shaving onto himself brought forth a hearty guffaw. The phone off the hook feels significant.

[@vanessa39308]

This is so peaceful and genuinely nice. I was smiling the entire time. :)

[@cerspence]

Picturing whoever downvoted this and laughing lol

[@NovaCorona]

I lost my grandparents to cancer when I was 14 and 16, so this video really struck a chord with me. You can tell how much love and respect you and your grandparents have for each other, as well as how supportive they are of your filmmaking. Amazing film as always, Joel. Keep it up!

[@Blahsheep]

Thank you for reminding me. I wanted to go see my grandmothers headstone while i was visiting and this reminded me. Thank you so much

[@jaredt.murphy8257]

At first glance, I'm taken by the simple beauty that they seem to exude, then I realize how it's your care and attention, and their trust in you that made this possible. Thank you, Joel, for sharing this feeling, this cozy, beautiful feeling with me. Best part of my week for sure.

[@sillyape741]

It's beyond words.... It's without words. It's a silent film actually, and it's astoundingly beautiful. A true, classic Haver. Thanks, Joel. And thanks for the reminder.

[@TinylimE]

What a beautiful video, you can feel the sincere nostalgic emotions and tranquility is so calming. The baby fox at the end is so cute, seeing the trust he has with them!

[@dansnelling8302]

I can’t help but think of where all of the microphones are, or if some if the sounds are special effects that were added later. I love the shuffling of feet from so far away from the camera, the birds in the day, the crickets at night, the light crinkling of paper when the grandfather is reading. Even the quiet electrical hum in the kitchen. Amazing

[@Mackerel95]

This was so beautiful, I was on the verge of tears the whole time I watched it. I loved the shots of the little details of your grandparents' home, and of their quiet moments together. When we talk or think about our lives, I think we often omit these little moments that make up so much of it.

[@ethanstapley1160]

This is how i want my life to be when i'm older, you got some good grandparents!

[@l4zrh4wk]

The bitter sweetness of old age. I’m a nurse and I see it every day. Live life to the fullest guys ❤️

[@bananasean5145]

This was peaceful. Thank you!

[@HowieDewitt535]

I know right, I feel so at peace and have a strong urge to go outside and befriend a fox now.

[@mishamazureka3486]

i cannot imagine what it's like to have family like this it makes me sad but moreso glad that such a thing exists

[@jenniferbauman]

😔 I know how you feel. I had to marry to find grandparents like this. Sad to think about but every one can't have every thing.

[@mishamazureka3486]

@@jenniferbauman thx for sharing. hope I get that luck too haha.

[@Setashi]

This is such a heartwarming video.

[@johnsartain6464]

The level of gentleness that your grandparents give off is so soothing. Such beautiful people.

[@sombat2788]

This is incredible, Joel. A delicate masterpiece.

[@DD-yg3ur]

Dear Joel, I really enjoyed your film about your grandparents and I hope you make more films like this. Thank you.

[@StupidEpiphany]

Such tender moments, captured free of fuss and noise (or even dialogue). sometimes you just need to live and breathe in the air that surrounds you at the moment. You've done something beautiful here Joel.

[@wealthybone2990]

Wow that's nice to see you make a video on your grandparents, I rarely see people make videos on their grandparents so this was nice to see, they look like such great people, thank you for making this. Also seeing that fox and him feeding it was one of the most adorable things I've ever seen. Honestly I wish I got to know all my grandparents and spend more time with them but unfortunately they've either passed or in a different country than me.

[@colton5699]

This is beautiful, Joel! I think whenever you look back at everything you’ve done, this will be one of your short films you will cherish the most. So glad you made this and shared it with us!

[@Ceberox]

I miss mine dearly. It's a beautiful film, thank you Joel. It brought back memories of my own.

[@OfficiallySnek]

Truly a grandparents moment of all time

[@lukasmadrid1945]

Love this joel, i have no grandparents any more and they all meant a lot to me. This makes me feel something, true art

[@smokejc]

You're a great filmmaker, Joel. This was really nice.

[@samuelyoung1236]

This is the classic tender side of Joel that gets me all teary eyed

[@ChrisGuerra31]

You never know how much time you have left with your loved ones. Thanks for making this Joel

[@ren-shen]

Heartwarming. Felt like a warm hug. I miss my grandparents.

[@Limeguy98]

Beautifully shot!! Im astonished. The way this was filmed and edited is simply wonderful theres so much in it

[@TheZandernator]

The confusing shot of the bread of the porch to be later answered with the cute fox munching is sublime

[@oscurmyerotis8244]

This was pleasant and very beautiful. Joel thank you. This is the stuff that inspires me to be a filmmaker.

[@lordshardik]

This was really great. You can tell they’re high-quality people, even without a word being said in the whole thing. And I love that the documentary shows how their beautiful life is that way because of the way they choose to spend their time; it’s not something that just happens to you, but on the flip side, it’s not something that just doesn’t happen to you. It’s all about how you choose to spend your time.

[@bromono4288]

What a lovely time. Great shots. Thank you for sharing this. You're lucky to still have your grandparents around. Cherish that time :)

[@NikiWinProd]

This was amazing. I never thought I needed such a calm video. It really shows the simplicity of love and life.

[@jarodwoodall]

This is so lovely and sweet Joel. You did an excellent job with this film!

[@PaulTurnbloom]

What a wonderful meditation. Thank you for making this and sharing it with us.

[@andy8041]

This was beautiful, Joel. I love it.

[@antlerbraum2881]

Just got back from visiting my grandparents funnily enough, one of them is really old and the other has cancer (they’re on different sides of the family). This film was nice, you really let the shots and natural audio speak for itself.

[@Andrea-dr6dz]

I'm sobbing. Thank you, Joel. It feels so small to me - a whole life. So small and so fragile. So tender.

[@ryanshairispoooofy]

Fucking beautiful. Jesus christ. Perfectly captures the quiet moments of minutiae. I can feel the little things in and around your grandparents lives and house that stuck with you, Joel. Makes me miss my grandma's old house and the memories I had there.

[@cjchu2597]

The fox is the protagonist for sure.

[@Tap5262]

This makes me feel depressed. If this is how life ends, I don't want it

[@MrOHjerry]

"What if we make a documentary with just B roll"

[@cakeface2283]

I always get a warm feeling when watching your work Joel. As long as you keep making them I’ll keep watching them, never change man

[@ayoshutduff]

A life I wish for.

[@HowieDewitt535]

Retire with enough to cover living expenses then.

[@gem3763]

Wow this was really impactful to watch. Thank you so much for making this, Joel.

[@HowieDewitt535]

Why do elderly people seems so much more happy than everyone else?

[@willmccoy484]

Generally in my experience at least in the south they dont

[@user-ed1yx2fq7l]

Not around me old people are angry impatient and overall grouchy asf

[@Uchihagaara9]

We spend our whole lives trying to hurry up and get to where we are going... yet in the end we are all going to the same place. We should all slow down and enjoy the simple and beautiful moments life tries to show us every waking moment. Love it.

[@keithsauve1222]

Woo new video!

[@AVA-StupidLN]

🥇

[@studioshitaketakashita7093]

but surprise surprise - this one is NOT an animation. wow.

[@zeni3382]

This is what KZbin is for. This is excellent. Reminds me of my grandparents

[@Saritabanana]

So sweet lying on the couch together. I’m 44 and about to separate from my husband. Our love hasn’t ever really felt this content. Thank you for this