Exit Through the Gift Shop is a documentary about the origins of street art and where it stands today. Most of the footage was recorded by a French shop owner Thierry Guetta who began filming every aspect of his life, and was later inspired by his street artist cousin "Invader" to follow around street artists as they practice their craft. Through his cousin, Thierry is able to meet many of the more renowned street artists and spends years videotaping them at work. Thierry uses the excuse that he's making a documentary about street art to disguise his filming obsession from the artists he follows. Eventually he meets Banksy who, contrary to his usual secretive manner, allows Thierry to follow him and record his work.When street art hit the mainstream, Banksy pushed Guetta to create his documentary. Thierry creates an unorganized jumble of clips instead of making the insightful documentary that Banksy expected. Realizing that Guetta isn't a filmmaker, Banksy decides that he should probably just make the documentary himself and gives Thierry the task of making art in order to distract him. Guetta dons the name Mister Brainwash and decides to skip the first few steps of becoming a street artist and goes straight to having his own showcase. Using his friends' fame and contacts, Mister Brainwash builds up hype for his showcase. To the disappointment of the artists he once followed, Thierry becomes a sellout who believes his own hype.
Like Banksy's other works this documentary makes a political statement. It shows how someone who had the potential to do something really good can go in the completely opposite direction and sell out. I felt really bad for all the street artist who were essentially betrayed and lied to by Guetta. The art alone makes this a worthwhile documentary to watch and the story is very interesting. Definitely a worthwhile documentary. As far as documentaries go I give Exit Through the Gift Shop 4 stars out of 5.
Check out my short video review.
