We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists - Trailer
Category: Movies and TV
The Human Experience
I watched The Human Experience tonight, and I have to say it was a truly beautiful documentary. If the footage of the children in Peru in particular doesn’t move you, chances are you aren’t alive inside. Within the first 30 seconds of the documentary starting, I could tell I was going to love it, and I’ll go so far as to say it was life-changing and powerful. If you endure corporate politics all day, after a while you may really start questioning humanity. This film will help remind you what is incredibly important: the human experience.
From the homeless experience:
- “You can’t say everyone is bad, we all have something happen to us. If you don’t have good family and friends to support you, then you’re in a lot of **** because it is family and friends, and you know this is life.”
- And then there is this brilliant clip from the movie:▶
- “Experience can be a generous teacher or a cruel teacher. But whatever experience we have, whether it is good or bad, we can always remember and learn something from it.”
- “We can talk about ideas forever. But ideas are simply that, they are thoughts, abstractions. Until these ideas are rooted in reality, in the reality of my own life, my own experience, they can’t be tested. They can’t be proven true.”
This film will help remind you what is incredibly important: the human experience.
Exit Through The Gift Shop
Banksy’s provocative documentary blurs the lines between artist, collector, and con artist
Banksy’s distinctive stencil art has transformed urban spaces into unexpected galleries
Just finished watching Exit Through the Gift Shop and loved it. It is very interesting what happens when underground art is turned upside down. You learn toward the end of the film why it is titled what it is.
What begins as a documentary about the secretive world of street art transforms into something far more unexpected—a meta-commentary on art, authenticity, and commercialization. As we follow an eccentric French shopkeeper’s obsessive journey to film graffiti artists at work, the narrative takes a stunning detour when the mysterious Banksy turns the camera back on the filmmaker himself.
The resulting film raises provocative questions: What defines “real” art? Who decides what has value? And is the entire art world just an elaborate inside joke? Whether you’re an art enthusiast or simply enjoy a good cultural mystery, this Oscar-nominated documentary challenges viewers to reconsider their assumptions about creativity, fame, and authenticity.
The Film’s Unexpected Journey
The description of the film on the official site captures its essence perfectly:
“This is the inside story of Street Art – a brutal and revealing account of what happens when fame, money, and vandalism collide. Exit Through the Gift Shop follows an eccentric shop-keeper turned amateur film-maker as he attempts to capture many of the world’s most infamous vandals on camera, only to have a British stencil artist named Banksy turn the camcorder back on its owner with wildly unexpected results. One of the most provocative films about art ever made, Exit Through the Gift Shop is a fascinating study of low-level criminality, comradeship, and incompetence. By turns shocking, hilarious and absurd, this is an enthralling modern-day fairy tale… with bolt cutters.”
Official trailer for Banksy’s documentary “Exit Through the Gift Shop”
What makes the film so compelling is its bait-and-switch structure. It begins as a straightforward documentary about the street art movement but evolves into something far more complex and meta. The title itself—”Exit Through the Gift Shop”—becomes a brilliant metaphor for the commercialization of counter-culture, revealed in the film’s surprising final act.
Throughout the film, viewers are left questioning what’s real and what’s fabricated. Is this an authentic documentary or an elaborate art prank orchestrated by Banksy? The ambiguity is deliberate, forcing us to examine our own assumptions about authenticity in art—a central theme of the street art movement itself.
The Icons of Street Art
The film features some of the most influential figures in the street art movement, providing rare glimpses into their secretive creative processes. These artists have transformed urban landscapes worldwide and challenged traditional notions of where and how art should exist:
Banksy
The elusive British artist whose stenciled works combine dark humor with political commentary. Despite global fame, his identity remains unknown.
Thierry Guetta / Mr. Brainwash
The film’s central character, whose transformation from documentarian to overnight art sensation, raises questions about authenticity and value in art.
Space Invader
French artist known for ceramic tile mosaics of characters from the 1978 arcade game “Space Invaders,” installed in cities worldwide.
Shepard Fairey
American artist behind the iconic “Obey Giant” campaign and the Barack Obama “Hope” poster, blending street art with political activism.
Monsieur André
French graffiti artist known for his distinctive character Mr. A, a round-faced figure with long limbs and a wide grin wearing a hat.
Ron English
American artist known for his subversive and satirical recreations of corporate logos and cartoon characters, often with political messaging.
What makes these artists fascinating is their shared willingness to risk legal consequences for their art. The film captures the adrenaline-fueled reality of creating unauthorized public art—scaling buildings at night, evading security, and transforming urban spaces into canvases, all while maintaining anonymity.
The Mr. Brainwash Phenomenon
I found Mr. Brainwash especially fascinating and am not quite sure what to make of him, but I don’t seem to be alone. Thierry Guetta’s transformation from eccentric documentarian to overnight art sensation raises the film’s most provocative questions.
After years of filming street artists, Guetta suddenly reinvents himself as “Mr. Brainwash” and mounts a massive exhibition of derivative works that combine elements of Banksy, Warhol, and other artists. Despite critical skepticism, his show becomes a commercial success, with pieces selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The Mr. Brainwash Controversy
- Is he genuine? Many question whether Guetta is a real artist or simply a creation of Banksy
- Art world critique: His success despite critical dismissal highlights the art market’s often arbitrary valuation
- Style vs. substance: His work raises questions about originality versus appropriation in contemporary art
- The ultimate prank: Some consider Mr. Brainwash to be Banksy’s elaborate commentary on the commercialization of street art
The genius of the Mr. Brainwash segment is how it forces viewers to confront uncomfortable questions about art valuation. If collectors will pay enormous sums for derivative work simply because it’s perceived as valuable, what does that say about the art market? And if we dismiss Guetta as a fraud, what objective criteria are we using to distinguish “real” art from “fake” art?
Art, Commerce, and Authenticity
Beyond its entertainment value, “Exit Through the Gift Shop” offers a sophisticated critique of the relationship between art, commerce, and authenticity. The film’s narrative arc traces street art’s evolution from countercultural rebellion to mainstream commodity:
- Underground origins: We see artists working in shadows, motivated by expression rather than profit
- Growing recognition: As the movement gains attention, galleries and collectors begin to take notice
- Commercialization: Street art transitions from public spaces to private collections
- Full circle: Mr. Brainwash’s success represents the ultimate commercialization—art as pure product
The film’s title becomes a perfect metaphor in the final act—we’ve experienced this raw, authentic art movement only to “exit through the gift shop,” where the experience is packaged, commodified, and sold back to us. It’s a critique that implicates everyone: the artists, the collectors, and even the audience.
This tension between artistic integrity and commercial success isn’t unique to street art, but the rapid mainstreaming of a movement that began as explicitly anti-establishment makes these contradictions particularly stark. The film doesn’t offer easy answers, instead inviting viewers to consider their own relationship with art as both expression and commodity.
A Modern Art Essential
If you are into modern art, it is definitely worth checking out. Whether viewed as a straightforward documentary, a satirical art prank, or something in between, “Exit Through the Gift Shop” offers a rare glimpse into a movement that has transformed contemporary art while raising provocative questions about authenticity, value, and commercialization.
Beyond its entertainment value, the film serves as an important historical document, capturing a pivotal moment when street art transitioned from underground phenomenon to blue-chip investment. The access to notoriously secretive artists like Banksy alone makes this essential viewing for anyone interested in contemporary art.
Join the Conversation
If you watch it, let me know what you think in the comments section. What’s your take on Mr. Brainwash? Genuine artist, elaborate hoax, or something else entirely? And how do you feel about street art’s journey from illegal act to museum exhibition?
PausePressPlay
Official Documentary Trailer
Extended Preview Clip
This documentary looks great, and they have Seth Godin in it, so you know it will be great (Seth is brilliant).
About the Documentary
“The digital revolution of the last decade has unleashed creativity and talent of people in an unprecedented way, unleashing unlimited creative opportunities. But does democratize culture mean better art, film, music and literature, or is true talent instead flooded and drowned in the vast digital ocean of mass culture? Is it cultural democracy or mediocrity? This is the question addressed by PressPausePlay, a documentary film containing interviews with some of the world’s most influential creators of the digital era.”
Key Themes Explored
Democratization
How digital tools have opened creative opportunities to everyone, regardless of formal training or institutional backing.
Quality vs. Quantity
The tension between increased creative output and the challenge of finding truly exceptional work in a sea of content.
The Future of Creativity
Exploring what the democratization of creative tools means for artists, audiences, and the evolution of art forms.
Featured Voices
SG
Seth Godin
Marketing Guru & Author
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Many More
Digital Era Creators
Learn More
Visit the official website for more information, screening dates, and sneak peeks:
What Do You Think?
Has the digital revolution improved or diluted creative content? Share your thoughts in the comments!
The Social Network
The Social Network: A Geek’s Perspective
Fact vs. Fiction in the Facebook Origin Story
Christina and I went to see The Social Network, and I would give it a 7 out of 10. As a geek, the subject matter appealed to my interests, but you might be offended by how geeks are portrayed. If you don’t consider yourself a geek, don’t like social networking, or if you’re a woman, there’s an even better chance you won’t enjoy the movie. Not all geeks are out to screw everyone over as depicted, and I’ll leave it to you to decide how women were portrayed.
Fair warning: potential spoilers ahead. Being obsessed with researching things to verify accuracy, I did some post-movie Googling to fact-check the film against reality and learn more about the real people behind the characters.
Erica Albright
The movie begins with Mark Zuckerberg creating a website rating the attractiveness of female Harvard students after his girlfriend Erica Albright breaks up with him. The real Erica says: “The movie definitely brought back some great memories… I guess you could say the movie is ‘based on a true story’ but there are many scenarios that were soooo made up by Hollywood! As far as the two scenes I’m in, the first one is fairly accurate, we did ‘break-up’ over dinner… but the second scene of me at dinner with my friends blowing Mark off never happened. (also he NEVER friended me on Facebook) lol!”
Sean Parker
Not that he’s the best role model, but Sean Parker is someone I’ve read about for years. My favorite article is the October 2010 Vanity Fair piece titled “With a Little Help From His Friends.” Parker is described as a “Web oracle; more than a few acquaintances and colleagues use the word ‘genius’ to describe him. He understands not only computers and Web networks but also how people want to incorporate them into their lives.”
Even among his many supporters, Parker “has a reputation for being an erratic party animal.” He was pushed out of Facebook after an arrest for cocaine possession in 2005, though no charges were filed.
Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss
Cameron and Tyler are identical twins on Harvard’s rowing team who meet Mark and request his help creating Harvard Connection. Soon after, Mark launches “TheFacebook.com,” prompting the Winklevosses to sue, claiming Mark stole their idea. I can’t say I fully understand their case – unless the idea was patented, isn’t Mark free to create whatever he wants?
Eduardo Saverin
Of all the “real world” characters, Eduardo was the most difficult to research online. He gets the “worst way to be portrayed” award, coming across as a nice guy who finishes last. Ironically, he seems to be the only one with ethics, so he should be the character we appreciate most. He once owned 30% of “thefacebook,” which was reduced to 0.03% once Peter Thiel (PayPal co-founder) and Sean Parker took control of the startup’s finances.
Mark Zuckerberg
According to the film, Mark creates thefacebook.com to meet women after his breakup. In reality, Mark’s girlfriend, Priscilla Chan (shown above), “was one of his pals at Harvard, where he studied back in 2004. Moreover, Chan is amongst the initial supporters who were with Mark when he came up with the concept of Facebook.” Chan even relocated to Silicon Valley with Zuckerberg after Facebook’s launch. She’s a medical student at UCSF with dreams of becoming a pediatrician.
Interesting Facts About the Movie
The Blue Backstory
Mark Zuckerberg is red-green colorblind, which is why Facebook is blue. (Not about the movie, but interesting.)
Star Consultant
Natalie Portman, a Harvard student during Facebook’s creation, gave writer Aaron Sorkin insider information. He thanked her by referencing her in a scene.
Perfectionist Director
The opening breakup scene between Zuckerberg and Erica took 99 takes to complete under David Fincher’s direction.