1) Monty Python’s Life Of Brian (1979)
Could it be that this classic of the Monty Python back catalogue is the ultimate alternative Christmas movie? With its biting satire of religious doctrine and its skewering of devotees, Life Of Brian certainly ticks all the boxes – in addition to employing the birth of Jesus as a plot device. With Terry Jones in the director’s chair, the film stars the whole Monty Python troupe – Jones, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle and Michael Palin – often playing multiple roles to great effect.
Brian Cohen (Graham Chapman) is a Jewish man who was born on the same day as Jesus Christ, in the stable next door. After initial confusion for the three wise men, Brian grows to be a conscientious, yet idealistic young fellow, who supports the fight against the Romans and has a deep, abiding attraction for the rebel, Judith.
By virtue of his association with the People’s Front of Judea, Brian finds himself in a line-up and reels off a vast amount of incoherent religious rhetoric to disguise himself and make his escape. This results in a number of misunderstandings – eventually causing a vast number of people to blindly follow him and declare him to be the Messiah, despite his protestations.
Inevitably, Brian is apprehended and sentenced to crucifixion, at which point his legions of unquestioning followers plead for his release – just to make fun of the speech impediment of Pontius Pilate (Michael Palin). When the wrong man is pardoned, Brian accepts his fate, and the sheer mind-boggling randomness of the universe, and joins in the song of his fellow damned citizens – Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life.
As is their way, Monty Python slice through centuries of religious fervour and cut right to the heart of the matter – that the only thing wrong with religion is mankind. As Brian’s actions are interpreted and misinterpreted, spread as gospel, and relentlessly followed, his audiences are transformed into nothing more than a mindless mob.
In this way, Life Of Brian is alternative in its satirical treatment of religion, and also in its assertion that faith can be productive when it remains personal and unhindered by the ‘middle men’ – both those who would twist it for the purposes of maintaining their own power, and those who are idolized.
In arguing that the faithful should be encouraged to ask questions, and come to their own conclusions, Life Of Brian also depicts the notion that the exaltation of figures in religious texts is comparable to modern day celebrity culture – in which hordes hang on the every word of people that grace the pages of magazines. In terms of Christmas, you don’t get much more alternative than that.
