From IMDB:
The story of how an eccentric French shop keeper and amateur film maker attempted to locate and befriend Banksy, only to have the artist turn the camera back on its owner. The film contains footage of Banksy, Shephard Fairey, Invader and many of the world's most infamous graffiti artists at work.
What if this film isn’t a documentary? I tend to fall on the side of those who believe the character Mr. Brainwash (although he actually exists, and his shows actually happened) was a creation for the film, Spinal-Tap style.
What would be a better way to comment on the ridiculousness that is the modern art scene than to fabricate an artist? Banksy has done this sort of performance/art before, specifically placing fake (and in my opinion more engaging) art in famous museums alongside the legitimate works on display.
Mr. Brainwash’s art is so redundant of other famous modern artists’ work (Warhol, Basquiat, Fairey, and Banksy himself) that to create him as a legitimate artist with a body of work, shows, and actual sales is the ultimate prank on the contemporary art establishment and its love affair with street art.
I’m not the first person to have this opinion, but I think it does make the film much more interesting. Too bad it narrowly missed an Oscar for Best Documentary.
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