Monty Python's Life of Brian

Religion is a very sensitive subject for many. People do not like others mocking their religions. There have been many movies that have poked fun at different religions. One that I watched recently was Monty Python's Life of Brian. This comedic film follows “Brian”, the main character, throughout his life. Brian was born at the same time as Jesus Christ. Brian is mistakenly thought to be Jesus, the Messiah.

This satire of Jesus Christ’s life starts with Brian being born in a stable a few yards away from where Jesus is born. Three wise men come to the stable and give Mandy, Brian’s mother, gifts and start to worship Brian as the Messiah. They quickly realize their mistake and leave to Jesus’ stable. Brian later in life joins a revolutionary group called “The People’s Front of Judah”. Brian is told by the group to graffiti the governor’s palace and successfully does so. The group then organizes a plan to kidnap Pontius Pilate’s wife. The group then runs into another revolutionary group while attempting to kidnap. Both groups have the same plan and instead of working together they fight one another. Brian is then captured by Roman guards and put into jail. Brian escapes from Pilate’s authority and while being chased ends up back at the People’s Front of Judah’s hideout where Brian ends up on a platform where other people are ranting about religion.

In order for Brian to fit in with this crowd he must start to vociferate to the crowd. Brian then starts to form a crowd around him while speaking. As the Roman soldiers finally pass by, Brian stops his speech. The crowd that was brought in by Brian are now his followers and consider Brian the Messiah. The crowd follows Brian and considers every minute thing a miracle. Brian loses a shoe and the crowd deems it a miracle. The Roman soldiers eventually capture Brian and Pilate condemns him to crucifixion.

The People’s Front of Judah comes to Brian as he is on the cross and tells Brian they will not be rescuing him. The group thanks Brian for dying for their cause and Brian’s “martyrdom” will serve as a “landmark” to free their land of the Roman Empire. Brian is left there on the cross to die. A fellow man beside Brian tells him to cheer up and not to look down on life. The movie ends with everyone, who is being crucified, singing the popular song made by this movie, “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”.

I can see how this movie would upset and has upset many Christians. It does put a twist on the life of Christ. I do not believe that Monty Python was making fun of Christ himself, but rather just making a comical satire on someone who was born next to Christ. With Monty Python’s movies I believe you have to take them for what they’re worth. Especially when the aliens in the spaceship come by and save Brian from falling. They were a little too far fetched for me in this movie, but I can see where Monty Python was coming from. They were ahead of their time. There are plenty of movies and even television shows out today that have a quick-wittedness in their use of satire that make fun of all different types of life.