Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)

Funny, inventive,
 poignant

and wonderfully

 creative. I have

nothing but good

 things to say

about this documentary.

This is a 'lightning in a bottle' film. It is hard to comprehend how so many potent elements, and chance meetings had to happen in order to bring this film to life. This is one of the most unique and innovative films I have ever seen, and it all occurred basically by chance.

I will not spoil how 'filmmaker' Theirry Guetta and street art legend Banksy meet, or the events that transpire after they cross paths, however I will say that it creates perhaps the most compelling documentary filmmaking I have ever seen.  Both characters are extremely fascinating subjects for a documentary, one a confused and awkward wannabe artist, the other the shadowy king of his medium. They are both seemingly complete opposites, yet at the same time represent the same artistic and rebellious spirit. 

The film features footage taken over the course of many. many years giving a sense of scale undreamed of by other films. I graciously thank every person who had to rummage through the literal weeks worth of footage to make this film a reality, yet succeed in editing together such a concise and poignant work. This film could have easily stretched into an unnecessary length within lesser hands, however here the story is kept brief, allowing for a fun and playful tone rather than being monotonous and preachy.

I firmly believe that this film can be enjoyed by any audience. As a wry comedy, as a serious insight into the world of street art, as an underdog story about a man learning to channel his seemingly limitless passions into something worthy of validation or as a discussion on the nature of art and what it means to devote one's life to it's creation. All these ideas are gaily weaved into what my be the most complete and narratively cohesive documentary I have ever seen. 

In conclusion, I highly recommend this film. Despite the dazzlingly high quality of documentaries i have seen this month, I do not hesitate in calling this the greatest I have covered so far. If it remains that way by the end of the month, then I will still be enormously satisfied with what I discovered in this masterpiece. 

By Jack D. Phillips

A Zoom Film Review

Documentary Month 2015 #5