This is a movie of epic proportions and an ode to what humor is for the intellectuals. It takes inspiration from the bible and the events of the movie are based in the biblical age. The movie starts with the entry of the three wise men into a poverty stricken household where a mother is taking care of her baby. The three men try to bless the baby only to be stopped by the acrimonious mother only until they say they have “gifts” for the baby. It so turns out that they have entered the wrong poverty stricken household and instead of blessing Jesus they have blessed Brian!
The movie is extremely hilarious and is way ahead of its time. It ridicules terrorist organization s and even has a number of its own in the film prominently named as the PFW (the Peoples front of Judea) an organization against the oppression of Romans. This surely draws inspiration from the PLO! The plot has many twists and turns’, ending with a lovely song as “Brian” is crucified.
The film was released in early 1979 and caused a loud uproar from various religious heads. I know of many situations on in India where religion and the caste system have made issues of non issues. I have also heard a lot of intellectuals saying that this would never happen in the west! A number of moral policing organizations lobbied to have this film banned. At the time in Britain the local community leaders could prevent a film from being screened within their community if they felt it to be “amoral”. And this was done in a lot of counties just based on hear say. The movie as such has nothing to talk about Jesus his views and neither is it sacrilegious.
This just goes to show that everywhere in the world there are people who blindly follow religion and become self-proclaimed moral policemen and there are enough people who just like to blindly follow a cause without a droplet of thought put into the ratification. Parallels can be drawn to the 92 Bombay riots or the Ayodhya incident any other mass religious movement! Freedom of speech and thought is very important for a society to grow and humor is an important element to rectify the vice of a society. The Romans had their humor instruments so did any of the many glorious empires from the past in India ratified by the myriads of folk tales that we have been subjected to from our grandmothers!
Ps- this link chronicles the media circus that followed the release of this satire. I know it is about 50 minutes but is very interesting!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJvJ-dIC3pE
1 comment:
Highlight was when the release of Da Vinci Code was stayed in India. The reason- it affected the sentiments of a 'significant' section of the people!! When the movie was released without great trouble in US, our secular Governments found it rather deprecating of the christian community and supported their protest against the release of the movie.
The things some people do for the vote banks.....pfaahh
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