Life of Brian

Monty Python’s life of Brian is a classic comedy film. The 1979 movie directed by Terry Jones and written and starring Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin tells the story of Brian Cohen (Graham Chapman) a unique Jewish man born on the same day and next door to Jesus who is mistaken for the Messiah. Although long surface level just another comedy movie Monty Python’s the meaning of life with the post-modern deconstruction of religion and the meanness of our own existence.

Right from the beginning the film shows that Brian’s life is effectively a cruel cosmic joke. Aziz born in the stable next to Jesus where the three wise men initially think he is the Messiah. This further highlights the comedy of the absurd as in people believe the individual to be special were it turns out he is not highlighting humanity’s own insignificance. From Mr film and transitions to the sermon on the Mount with Brian’s mother shouting at Jesus to speak up. The film showcases the pointlessness of these types of practices and that people will try and find meaning in anything in order to gain a sense of understanding from their existence and that a lot of people do this through the practice of religion. This scene also acts as a post-modern deconstruction of biblical stories highlighting the ridiculousness and absurdity of trying to find a greater meaning giving life as humanity should instead laugh and rejoice at the with all own insignificance.

This projection of significance on the insignificant is shown throughout life of Brian. When one man is stoned for saying Jehovah the film highlights the idea of placing power on a certain word is ludicrous and that people exploit this censorship by finding into attainments in the act of stoning a man to death. With dealing out punishment just for saying the name “Jehovah” the film further places significance on the insignificant and how people have a desire to the tribute meaning to anything. With the stone man dancing around shouting “Jehovah” the film points out the tragedy of his own existence due to him surviving as his executioner gets crushed by a giant rock for saying “Jehovah” showcasing the post-modern deconstruction of these historic biblical ideologies.

With the ex-beggar it shows the impact religion has in order to possibly affect people’s lives in a negative way whilst also turning this ideology background in itself as Brian says “there’s no pleasing some people” to which the ex-leper says “that’s what this what Jesus said sir”. This showcases the ultimate pointlessness of both ideologies four and criticising religion through a post-modernist deconstruction of the traditional historical tropes associated with Jesus’s life. In the film Brian hates the idea of having to work with the worm Romans as the film showcases the dangers of being swallowed up by ideology such as Brian take the Romans. Within the film both Romans and the Jews are made fun of equally since the Judaean People’s front just stands around debating without any action being taken against the problem in hand. Throughout the film Brian is presented as the voice of the audience, the only sane rational human being in a sea of madness.

People have a desire for meaning and the tribute significance to anything. This links into the comedy of the absurd which draws humour from what is and is not true as well as what people believe to be true showcasing absurd situations people. Themselves into as repetitive and fruitless actions. This is further showcased with Stan wanting to be a woman as Reg points out the ridiculous of the idea as they seek to be biologically impossible. Stan states this is oppression showcasing the comedy of the absurd and humanity’s desire to act out pointless actions. With the Judaean People’s front and the People’s front of Judaea fighting one another the film showcases how ideologies can be morphed to serve the wheels of the individual. The film showcases our fighting with one another is the Achilles heel of any revelation that change will only occur when mass agreement in action for the subject is decided is life of Brian criticises both sides of the argument equally. With Brian painting over a wall “Romans go home” the soldier’s complaint is his grammatical errors which forcing him to paint it correctly several times over. This is another example of the comedy of the absurd and how people draw significance to insignificance however even this act has insignificant evening of itself as throughout the film no revolution happens.

In the “what have the Romans ever done for us” scene the film shows that life is ultimately better under the Romans protection. This further showcase significance upon the insignificant and the comedy of the absurd as the film dismantled the idea of a revolution of reverence for revolution sake. The film explains that raging against the system is pointless without a logical reason to what people want, as power and meaning in their lives will ultimately be pointless. This is shown through Brian as the eyes of the audience as he is the only sane character throughout the film. The People’s front of Judaea and another section bump into one another and start a fight. It is only when Brian says they should be immunised against the Romans that they calm down. This idea of sex as fighting amongst themselves showcases the pointlessness of them supposes revolution highlighting the insignificance of actions. This also further showcases the comedy of the absurd in fighting due to the small differences change from the norm against, Naomi will be impossible as showcased by Brian The Voice of the audience throughout the film. This projection of significance and the insignificance is further shown with Brian’s life being a tragedy. Even the fellow Brit in his cell believes that Brian is better than him and expresses no sorrow showcasing a post-modern deconstruction of the typical hero.

With Caesar speaking in a funny way complete with the bigger stickers seen the film showcases a post-modern deconstruction of our traditional associations with Romans being the series characters as within the film where Sharon is idiots. When Brian. The top of the building he lands in spaceship with aliens before it crashes to her. This further highlight are commonly abused to every postmodern deconstruction of the biblical historical epic warping logic and meaning in which anything could happen throughout the narrative. Several post-modernist deconstructions also occur such as two of the preachers being crazy on one being normal and Brian not wanting to haggle for the bid showing significant something insignificant.

Brian then pretends to be preaching to blending hide from the Romans. This further relate to the comedy of the absurd in finding meaning nothing. If people taking it seriously further reinforces the tragedy the way they kill but suppose it heretic misunderstanding of Brian’s life as people predict significance onto the insignificant. People have a desire to find meaning in life and through the humour of the absurd they project that meaning onto meaningless things. People interpret by dropping his Grobe and sandal as a sign from God. This further illustrates the humour of the absurd in people want to find a greater plane to life but instead life of Brian teaches people to embrace the meanness of their existence, as illustrated by the misunderstanding of Brian’s life. As with the Grobe that the follow speaks up the film showcases equalising evacuation with plating significance on the insignificance due to their desire to have meaning in their life.

When Brian loses his sandal, people mistake it for a religious line. Again, this scene shows the projection of significance only insignificance is pointless. Instead life of Brian embraces the pointlessness and absurdity of it all as people see things that Brian does not have the acts. People have a desire for meaning in life and the tribute significance to anything. This again links into the comedy of the absurd by drawing humour from what is and what is not true as well as what people believe to be true when caught in absurd situations reinforcing to repressive and fruitless actions.

This post-modernist deconstruction of religion is further showcased when Brian confronts his followers. This scene further showcases the comedy of the absurd as people want to find meaning in our life that is meaningless and projects this onto Brian as a parable for religion. This further showcases the tragedy of Brian. Brian is a character with an anti-God complex which is further showcased by the projection of the significance of the insignificant. People have a desire for meaning and a tribute significance to anything this allows the comedy of the absurd to flourish to draw humour from what is and what is not true and what people ultimately believe to be true causing Brian to be caught into absurd situations as he is forced into repetitive fruitless actions. When Brian points out that there are juniper bushes over there to his followers, they want to believe it is a miracle. People have the desire for meaning and therefore a tribute significance to anything. This again links to the comedy of the absurd drawing humour from what is and what is not true and what people believe to be true as they are. Into repetitive fruitless actions. The old man who lives off the juniper bushes is killed by blind followers because he is an unbeliever and is therefore persecuted. The way they kill the supposing terroristic showcases the dangers of religion in people’s blind beliefs in following an ideology.

After sleeping with Judith in a very own Jesus like way, Brian opens his window to reveal a large gathering of his followers. This further highlights the comedy of the absurd and the tragedy of Brian’s life. People have a desire to find meaning in existence and will therefore in tribute significance to anything. This is another example of the comedy of the absurd highlighting what is and is not true and what people believe showcasing absurd situations resulting in repetitive and fruitless actions. Monty Python’s life of Brian as a post-modernist deconstruction of Jesus Christianity and religion. Brian’s states that he is not the Messiah and that they do not need to follow him or anyone else. However, this idea is parroted back to him showcasing his efforts as frivolous. As for the comedy of the absurd people have desire to create meaning however the comedy of the life of Brian pokes fun at this showcasing the meanness of their own existence. Brian’s entire existence is one big misunderstanding in projecting the significant onto the insignificant people put their desire and meaning on important aspects of life. As the comedy of the absurd jewels humour from what is and what is not true showcasing that the supposes truth is absurd and that their actions are ultimately pointless.

Once again, every Facet is lampooned in life of Brian with the People’s front of Judaea wanting to exploit Brian for their own ends making them no better than the Romans. Julia believes that Brian is the head of revolution, which further shows people wanting meaning in their lives and project genie is through religion even if it is not true. With the Roman emperors having lisps and funny voices the film shows the post-modernist deconstruction of these supposedly great rulers as within the film where showcased as stupid and not having the respect of the people. That being said, the revolutionaries are shown as equally pointless and absurd as with the People’s front of Judaea engaging minus debates as a fad to create any supposes revelation action is needed but they refuse to do anything then discuss the matters in hand. The film showcases the post-modern deconstruction of Roman rulers who traditionally are individuals that command a godlike respect but in the life of Brian their bumbling idiots who are laughed at by the masses.

Brian is the only character who at acts like a real person try for crucifixion they just move him along with the rest of the crowd highlighting the post-modern absurdity of what is taking place. If multiple people coming to see Brian the film showcases the tragedy of his own existence. People only see Brian as a symbolic vessel of what he represents to the individuals in question about Renée without seeing the very human man being crucified and the suffering he is injuring. This seems very much parallels Christianity as people see the symbolic representation of what Jesus went through about realising the personal suffering he endured as an individual. This is showcased throughout all the characters in the film. The Judaean People’s front is effectively used Brian for their own gain and see his sacrifice as symbolic for the good of the calls without caring about him as an individual. The “I’m Brian” scene parodying Spartacus shows how even the individuals in the same situation as they will exploit each other and by extension Christ in order to better themselves as symbolic you show me someone else getting taken off their cross. The Judaean People’s front supposedly come to the rescue for Brian but are in fact a suicide squad that kills themselves again showcasing the stupidity of supposes revolutionaries a key theme throughout the film. Judith believes what lies doing is a wonderful thing. Again this showcases how people used Brian as a symbolic image of hope without caring about the individual in question mirroring Christ. Brian’s mother laments her own guilt and anger onto Brian without caring about his situation. In the end is showcased by the musical number closing the film all they can do is look on the bright side of life.

Within the life of Brian Brian’s life reflects the ancient Greek myth of Sisyphus, whereby syphilis the king of Ephyra was punished for his self-aggrandizing craftiness and deceitfulness by being forced to roll an immense boulder up a hill only for it to roll down every time it neared the top, repeating this action for eternity. This action is portrayed as symbolic of life itself. However, life Brian’s message is not to let this meaningless bog you down and instead look on the bright size when faced with your own individual insignificance and ultimate impending doom the only thing you can do is laugh.