Generally described as “the Citizen Kane of bad movies.” The lead actor, who non-coincidentally wrote and directed it, is a man of mystery, delusion, and apparent brain damage after one or more car accidents. He has competing desires for fame and a compulsive privacy regarding his past life and current location. He is inexplicably wealthy, after getting his start in California selling toy birds (Oiseau [Wiseau]) on the San Francisco waterfront.

His real name and national origin were matters of speculation for about a decade, but if you were to guess “a transylvanian got hit by a Paris bus and then moved to Louisiana and losing his shit” it would be close to the mark (Oh hai, Mark).

Watch the movie for what it is. If you need to delve deeper, read “The Disaster Artist” which is the (ghostwritten) memoir of his co-star and sometimes roommate. (The guy who played Mark)

Years ago someone on Reddit tracked down parts of his birthplace and history.