Exit Through The Gift Shop

Director: Banksy

Starring: Thierry Guetta, Banksy, Shepard Fairey, Space Invader

Genre: Documentary

Year: 2010

Run Time: 87 Minutes

How: Apple TV (Netflix)

Notable Awards

Academy Award For Best Documentary - Nominated

Thierry Guetta is a strange man. There is no way around it. Thierry has spent the better part of his life filming...everything. As we learn, Thierry's obsession spawn from childhood trauma and a need to immortalize every moment on film.

Thierry got into the street art scene completely by accident. While visiting family in France, he meets up with his cousin, Invader, a prominent street artist known pasting mosaics of the classic  Space Invaders arcade game in public spaces. Invader lets Thierry tag along while he does his nocturnal activities, and Thierry immediately becomes hooked.

When Invader comes to LA a few months later, he arranges for Thierry to meet Shepard Fairey, a notable street artist most commonly known for the Barack Obama Hope posters. Thierry shadows Shepard as he plans, makes, and places his art, learning the all about the world of street art. Shepard is confused by Thierry's enthusiasm for the subject, not knowing what he plans to do with the hours upon hours of footage he has filmed. Thierry, faced with this question, declares he is going to make a street art documentary, and the two travel around the world, filming several other artists.
Through their travels there was one artist that continuously eluded Thierry, that man was the mysterious Banksy. Banksy, known for his political commentary and style, has gone to great lengths to conceal his identity. By sheer luck, Thierry is put in contact with the enigmatic artist by Fairey and Thierry quickley makes himself indispensable to Banksy, showing him walls, as well as filming the reaction to the art. 

Banksy was intrigued by the enigma that is Thierry. 

Rating: 8.0