Holy Flying Circus

[poliphilo]

The TV play Holy Flying Circus asked whether a film like Life of Brian could or would be made today- in this age of edgy religious minorities. Seeing how the play was considerably more offensive than the film dared to be (a farting Jesus for starters) the answer is clearly "No"; not because the churches would take it down, but because guying Christianity has become old hat and even a teeny bit boring. 

Brian belongs to an age of religious transition. It depends upon a mass audience knowing the Bible- but not taking it too seriously. It could only have been made when it was. Twenty years earlier the church would have been too powerful, twenty years later too weak.  

Comments

[michaleen.livejournal.com]

That was part of why we drove to Harrisonburg, about two-hours away. Though we had three theaters in our area back then, there wasn't a snowball's chance that it would be released here, in this county. There were no official bans. None were needed, I expect.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

British cinemas were subject to local licensing in the 70s (they may still be for all I know) and it was quite in order for small town councillors to ban a film.