"Exit Through the Gift Shop"

Exit Through the Gift Shop may or may not have been directed by the British street artist Banksy.  It explores the questions of what art is and who it belongs to, as well as taking a critical look at the commercialization of art.  It purports to be about Thierry Guetta, a Frenchman transplanted to Los Angeles who becomes interested in and begins filming street artists all over the world, claiming to be making a documentary.  He befriends the elusive Banksy who convinces him that he himself should be making art, so he does, incorporating the techniques of the artists he has been filming.  He has a wildly successful show in Los Angeles.  Since the film Guetta creates is hopelessly bad, Banksy takes the footage and makes his own film about Guetta and Guetta's questionable art.

My rating:  **** (out of 5)

And thanks for the image, Banksy