Now Playing

McDonald at the Movies: Life of Brian

Wed, Nov 21 / 7 pm
Directed by Terry Jones
1979, UK, 94 mins

Once a month comedian and co-founder of Kids in the Hall, Kevin McDonald will present a handpicked film from the archives of comic history.

Introduced by Kevin McDonald.

“A beautiful film, a perfect comedy, and a gentle triumph of silliness over pomposity, self-importance, and intolerance – Monty Python’s “Life of Brian” could be the best British comedy ever. In Judea, a mother tends her newborn child. Lo, from the east three wise men appear to pay tribute to the infant – but they want the stable next door: this is Brian Cohen not Jesus Christ! Rolling forward 33 years, Brian joins the People’s Front of Judea, a wannabe terrorist cell out to undermine the occupying Romans. Brian gets roped into their plot to kidnap Pontius Pilate’s wife but they run into another terrorist gang on the same mission and everyone is captured while squabbling among themselves.

Reviews

From the opening scene and the belting Shirley Bassey-esque score, this is Monty Python par excellence. This is the "Catch 22" of cinema, and in its politics, like Joseph Heller, the Python crew refuse to spare anyone. Always threading in and around biblical stories, the plot never contradicts or denies the Bible, it just pokes fun at the hangers-on, charlatans, and pompous officials that organised religion often attracts.
-BBC
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ABOUT US

The Winnipeg Film Group is an artist-run education, production, exhibition and distribution centre committed to promoting the art of cinema.
our location

We’re located in the heart of Winnipeg's historic Exchange District in the Artspace building. We are across the street from Old Market Square at the corner of Arthur Street and Bannatyne - one block west of Main.

The Winnipeg Film Group is located on Treaty 1 Territory and on the ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene Peoples and in the homeland of the Métis Nation. We offer our respect and gratitude to the traditional caretakers of this land.

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