Exit Through the Gift Shop

If the sign of a great documentary is its ability to spark debate, then Exit Through the Gift Shop is up there with the best. Fierce arguments over the film’s authenticity have been raging all over the world.

The film is about Thierry Guetta, an eccentric Frenchman living in Los Angeles who is obsessed with his video camera. Guetta’s cousin (the renowned artist – Space Invader) introduces him to world of street art and he films the late night expeditions of various people in the scene. After much searching, Guetta crosses paths with the phantom of the street art world – Banksy (shown in shadow with his voice digitally altered).

Guetta own life turns out to be a lot more interesting than his film making. He creates his own street art persona – Mr Brainwash – and with some hired help, he begins to create his own artworks. These look remarkably similar to the work of Banksy and other street artists.
Exit through the gift shop will make you question what art really is. Many street artists appropriate images to make their statement. Guetta appropriates the appropriators and, reportedly, makes millions from it. Is the documentary itself a hoax? Watch it and join the debate.