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Life of Brian

Monty Python’s puerile, yet clever brand of comedy has often pissed people off. The group’s famous religious satire Life of Brian was banned in several countries — some up until quite recently — and drew protests and moral outrage worldwide. Of course, the troupe’s response to the controversy was equally offensive to many. “So funny it was banned in Norway!” became the movie’s tagline, not winning any love from Scandinavia. While British censorship regulations remain a force to be reckoned with, 1979 was a different story entirely, and the film suffered for it. Today, the movie still causes a ruckus with conservative Christian groups, but Life of Brian is a most-loved comedy and financial success that hardly shocks in today’s moral (or immoral?) climate.