Exit Through the Gift Shop
Review
by Anthony Morris
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Exit Through the Gift Shop
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The first film by secretive UK street artist Banksy, Exit Through the Gift Shop, is a lot of things.
It
begins as a salute to the imagination and endeavour of a group of
artists (including Banksy) who started using the street as their canvas
around the turn of the century.
Then it develops into a
character study of Frenchman turned L.A. resident Thierry Guetta, a
second‑hand boutique owner whose compulsion to videotape everything
around him at all times led him to become the unofficial archivist of
the street art scene.
Then Exit Through the Gift Shop
twists back on itself as Thierry decides to become a street artist
himself under the name "Mr Brainwash" while Banksy - who was one of his
subjects, and only appears with his voice distorted and face hidden -
takes over the director's chair to cover Mr Brainwash's first big show.
The result is as funny and as smart as the best of Bansky's
art, holding a mirror up to what he and his fellow artists do and
revealing that yes, anyone can make it big in the hype‑driven world of
modern art - but should they?
Whatever your opinion of street art, this documentary (or mockumentary?) is hilarious and thoroughly enthralling. 4 out
of 5
Exit Through the Gift Shop
Australian release: 3rd June,
2010
Official
Site: Exit Through the Gift Shop
Cast: Banksy, Shepard Fairey, Thierry Guetta
Director: Banksy
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