The Life of Brian

As a little boy, I remember my father bringing home a copy of Life of Brian because he knew I was a major fan of Monty Python’s Holy Grail. At the time I liked the movie for what I thought it was, just a funny comedy. Now that I am older and can catch satire when I see it, I wonder if my Christian father had any idea of what he was bringing into his house. I watched the movie again this week after watching some clips in class because I was interested in fully understanding the movie and its hidden messages.

With Monty Python’s beginnings dating to the late 60’s, their successful career has included movies such as the Meaning of Life, …And Now for Something Completely Different, The Quest for the Holy Grail, and The Life of Brian. Although most of the above movies have their little pokes at religion, The Life of Brian is the one that has generated the most controversy for its attempt to bring Christianity down to a level where it is not something sacred or holy. Satire is the sword that is used to dissect this religion and observe the pieces making it up.

The plot of the movie starts with Brian being born in a stable a few doors down from the on that Jesus was born in. Throughout his life, Brian is constantly mistaken as Jesus. Everything he does is mistaken for a miracle and his unthinking followers undoubtedly believe he is their Messiah. Brian exclaims, “ I am not the Messiah! One of his followers replies, “ I say you are my Lord, and I should know, I’ve followed a few. This line is just the start of the satire that is packed into this movie. Through the making fun of Prophets, Nuns, the writing on the wall and finally Jesus’ crucifixion, the makers of the movie beg for you to use your own head and not follow any religion blindly. The last scene of the movie is definitely the most controversial when it shows the crucifixion of Christ being made into a silly sing along. This scene upset religious sects and leaders around the world and was banned in churches across the world.

Although it is at sometimes downright blasphemous, a truly educated would see that it is not necessarily making fun of Christianity, it is simply asking questions as to why people follow it so blindly. I think it is important to ask the questions that this movie does, however some of the scenes did make me a little uncomfortable, most of all the crucifixion.