Most everyone knows the story of the Messiah, a Middle Eastern Jew born via immaculate conception who grows up to become savior of mankind and the foundation of Christian religion.
    Life of Brian is not that story.
    Rather, it is the story of one Brian Cohen, coincidentally born on the same day as Jesus, in a stable near the one that witnessed the blessed birth. In the film we encounter Brian circa 33 AD, an unexceptional and somewhat bewildered everyman who finds himself mistaken for one of the many mesianic prophets in Judea at that time.
    Well, you can see where this is going. The premise, and its execution, are products of the inventive minds of five Brits – Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin, and one Yank – Terry Gilliam, collectively known as MONTY PYTHON.
    As John Oliver puts it:   "This strange group of wildly talented, appropriately disrespectful, hugely imaginative and massively inspirational idiots changed what comedy could be for their generation and for those that followed. ... they've never been afraid to get into trouble, and Life of Brian is the perfect distillation of that."
    The concept germinated as the Python troupe sat in an Amsterdam coffee shop after the filming of Holy Grail. "There's never been a biblical comedy film." Then, "We could make it about mistaken identity." Thus the screenplay was born, one that came to satirize Hollywood bible epics, religious fanaticism, class struggle, crazy prophets, the art of haggling, revolutionary groups and occupying beureaucracies alike.
    This brilliant, absurdist triumph over pomposity, self-importance, and intolerance went after everything. Except Jesus. In the face of controversy and protest back in the 70s (mostly from those who had not even seen the film) Michael Palin made it clear that Life of Brian did not pick on the figure of Jesus or his empathetic teachings
    Now, with the limited re-release we can see and enjoy Life of Brian with the benefit of our life experience. Terry Gilliam: "We made it 40 years ago, but it is so applicable to our world now. Which either says the world never really changes, or it just gets more absurd."
    And verily I say unto thee: "Blessed are the cheese makers and the Greek shall inherit the earth." Life of Brian parodies inept bureaucrats, fundamentalism, anti-semitism, a man who wants to be a woman and other tropes that abound today. Who knew? See it with us and let laughter reign anew!