Genre: Comedy Director(s): Terry Jones Release Date: 01 January 1979 Movie rating: 8.1

Hailed as the greatest British comedy of all times, “Life of Brian” was met with a great deal of controversy upon its initial release in 1979, due to its mocking treatment of religious subjects. The film was written by the famous comedy group Monty Python and stars Graham Chapman as the titular character Brian Cohen. Brian was born on the same day as Jesus in a house next door to him, which initially confuses three wise men into thinking that he is the Messiah. He grows up an idealistic young man with a deep seated hatred towards the roman oppressors in Judea. After he falls in love with a rebellious young woman called Judith, Brian joins the People’s Front of Judea, one of numerous resistance movements aimed against the Romans. He is then forced to flee the Roman authorities and has to pretend to be one of the religious mystics in order to fool his pursuers. He evades the hunting dogs, but finds himself with a whole army of admirers believing he is the Messiah again and hanging on to his every word. Ultimately he is captured and crucified, and the final attempts to have him set free fall short, as he and the rest of the crucified men take part in a light hearted song “Always look on the bright side of life”.

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