
Exit Through the Gift Shop
By S. Jhoanna Robledo,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Curious docu about street artists has some strong language.

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Exit Through the Gift Shop
Community Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
A documentary with a few unexpected twists and turns and abstract questions about street art
Fantastic, engaging documentary that will appeal to teens
What's the Story?
Thierry Guetta, a former Los Angeles shopkeeper, turns accidental documentary filmmaker and artist in EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP. Guetta is an avid videographer, and street artists became his favorite subject. After hobnobbing with the likes of such artists as Swoon and Shepard Fairey, who became famous for his rendition of Barack Obama's countenance, Guetta befriended the famously reclusive Banksy, who gives him the task of attempting to make art himself. Guetta becomes Mr. Brainwash and takes to the task immediately, deciding to create a massive show and hyping it up in the media.
Is It Any Good?
This rags-to-artists tale is compelling, indeed, and every frame is worth watching. Guetta is a strangely fascinating subject, both as a documentarian wannabe and as an artist wannabe who captivates. (His show was hugely attended.) The film affords an appealing, if slightly roundabout, look at the world of street art -- the thrill of the process, the lure of the rebellion.
But you can't help wondering, as you watch, whether we, as viewers, have become part of someone's subversive art piece. The film, after all, is directed by Banksy, who's presented here as a subject but then ends up documenting the filmmaker. Confused? Not surprising -- but, hey, it's an adventure nonetheless.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about street art: What makes it so compelling? What do the artists get out of creating it? What do viewers get?
Is graffiti vandalism or art?
What about the documentary filmmaker, Thierry, whose work is central to the film? What kind of artist is he?
Movie Details
- In theaters: January 24, 2010
- On DVD or streaming: December 14, 2010
- Cast: Banksy , Rhys Ifans , Thierry Guetta
- Director: Banksy
- Studio: Oscilloscope Pictures
- Genre: Documentary
- Run time: 85 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: some language
- Last updated: October 8, 2022
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