Bill's Mountain

Amazing
This is a heartfelt and original film. Truly special. It shows a slice of life that has not often been presented.

12-YEARS IN THE MAKING
I teach the Documentary Studies class at UNLV and I saw this documentary at the Singapore International Film Festival and immediately added it to the list of docs I screen for my students. It was 12-years in the making and offers an insightful and humorous view of a local Laurel Canyon resident as he keeps the neighborhood together as everyone's gardner and handyman. Filmmaker Dyanne Asimow handles her material with keen intelligence and sensitivity which makes for a unique presentation of a rare and gentle soul.

An inspiring story of community
A good documentary takes us deep beneath the surface. In the case of Bill's Mountain, the surface is the neighbor from hell. Bill Jackson owns a home in the lovely Laurel Canyon area of Los Angeles. He collects massive amounts of combustible junk. His driveway is littered with filthy old cars. He shows up in your yard or your house at all hours of the day or night. He cares for flocks of cats. He looks, talks, dresses and eats weird. In fact, he's kind of frightening. Beneath the surface, though, Bill is a kind and caring man who lives only to help his neighbors and save the lives of insects. He cares tenderly for the father who threw him out to survive on the street when he was eight years old. And many of his neighbors think Bill is a saint. They write to the court asking for mercy when Bill is busted for failing to register his car. They clean out his junk so the city won't have to. It's an inspiring story of a community that embraces this sad and downtrodden man and...

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