Always look on the bright side…
The hit comedic movie Monty Python, released in 1979, was briefly banned in some countries worldwide, including Ireland and Italy, due to its being “blasphemous.”
Filmmaker Julian Doyle claims it was actually a “more authentic and accurate portrayal of Jesus Christ than the teachings of the Church and the Bible combined.”
While discussing his new book, “The Afterlife of Brian”, he believes the Life of Brian is no more disrespectful of the Messiah than the musical Jesus Christ Superstar created by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Doyle made it clear that the movie was misinterpreted as a mockery of Christianity and Jesus; it was a movie based on people who blindly follow leaders.
“The politicians, the censors, and, of course, the placard-waving mobs of protesters completely misunderstood Life of Brian.”
“Many were clearly as dim-witted as a Gumby because they simply didn’t grasp the fact that we weren’t mocking Jesus or Christians at all,” he said.
He added: “but simply making a film that satirised society’s comedic tendency to follow religious, political and business leaders like sheep.”
“If you look at the film from a historical point of view, you’ll realise that it is a far more authentic and accurate portrayal of Jesus Christ than the teachings of the Church and the Bible combined.”
He unsympathetically dismissed the idea of his movie being blasphemous, arguing that “As nonsensical and ignorant as calling Jesus Christ Superstar blasphemous, too.”
“And quite clearly, Webber’s musical is about as far from blasphemous as you can get.”
“If you really want to get upset about the film, then it should be over its historical accuracy, which brings the biblical narrative into serious question.”
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