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Joybubbles

Michael Borek February 5, 2026

Joybubbles may sound silly, but it’s a staggeringly affecting documentary. Wow.

Listen to Joe’s recordings and you’ll see—not like him, of course, because he was born blind ;)—but you’ll begin to understand who he is and why there’s a movie about him.

It turns out that in the past, the world was not so accepting of people like him. That’s rich, because he wanted to help people instead of being helped all the time; to connect with people without them bullying or feeling sorry for him.

And then, as happens in life, something simple but eventually meaningful happens: He encounters a landline phone. What follows is unbelievable, and Joe and his friends/associates tell us all about it. Think whistling, the world’s most powerful company, crime, secret emotion, and more.

That’s it, and that’s plenty. Now some words for our star.

Joe, thank you for sharing your wise technologist explorer linguist poet entertainer self with the world. I hope you felt at least some of the love that others felt from you. You’re a smart guy and already know this, but as a reminder, only the most mature people decide to keep childlike wonder alive while also trying to heal themselves and help others as they make their way through this world. You are a bastion, a beacon, a joybubble; now and forever.

In 2026, Sundance 2026, Documentary
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