EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP – Staff Review

Street artist Banksy’s debut feature film, EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP, is an interesting one; a successful comedy and a solid documentary that constantly questions the validity of street-art and the hype that surrounds it. What surprised me the most was how little Banksy actually features in the film.

The film follows shopkeeper turned amateur documentary maker, Thierry Guetta, who gets a thrill from recording artists working against the clock (and the law). Capturing the biggest names in the field, he eventually gets through to the elusive Banksy. But Thierry’s focus is drawn more towards creating his own art than his video recording, so much so that he creates an alter ego for himself; Mr. Brainwash.

Ultimately this is a Frankenstein story, as Thierry turns from cameraman to artist, with Banksy taking up the filmmaking duties and sculpting thousands of hours of raw footage into something watchable, as well as documenting Thierry’s descent into the world of street-art.

“I don’t know anything about how to make a film, but that didn’t stop Thierry”, Banksy states, his straight talking Bristolian commentary punctuates the film throughout and his bemused comments provide a lot of the comedy (as does Thierry’s eccentric personality).

You don’t have to be a fan of the artist’s work to enjoy this, but you will find it an interesting and (importantly) enjoyable watch. It never preaches about the work of street artists, yet succeeds in shedding some light on their secretive and often frowned upon creation of art within contemporary society.

Sam Clements – Ritzy Projectionist