Starring Bill Tregle, Ben Skora, Darlene Satrinano, Ed Pedan, Diana Pedan Directed by Chris Smith U.S. Box Office: $119,052 Rated NR Release Date 2001

Directed by Chris Smith, who also directed the cult hit American Movie, takes the camera’s reins once again for this little known documentary about five different, very strange houses across the county and the equally odd folks who live there. They range from a mission silo in Kansas, a tree house in Hawaii, a all cat house in San Diego, a house boat on the Louisiana bayou and a all electronic house in the suburbs of Chicago. As interesting as the houses are, the people who live there are the real story here.

Bill, the life long bachelor known as ‘the gator man’ is just that, an alligator farmer of sorts. There’s the incredibly odd Linda, a former Japanese actress who talks to water and kisses trees. Then, Ed and Diana enjoy native american flues and drums circles in the midwest. Let’s not forget Ben, the guy who can make his living room revolve from the other side of the world and last but not least is Bob and Francis, the cat nuts.

Any description I could give of this movie simply wouldn’t do it justice. It’s sublet quirky and eccentric subjects is something you just have to witness for yourself. You’ll be laughing and shaking your head at the reality of these people. Hollywood couldn’t write stuff like this and if they did, we’d all say it wasn’t believably.

When I heard that the director of American Movie had a new movie out, I ran to the local independent theater and actually saw this one twice and the DVD holds a front row position on my shelf. Even though the film has a running time of just over a hour, this is an undiscovered jewel that you must see.

Film Grade: A+