Salvationists’ view of film

Press, 12 August 1980, Page 19

Salvationists’ view of film

PA' Wellington The Salvation Army has added its voice to the debate about the film, “The Life of Brian,” in its weekly magazine, the •‘War Cry.” The magazine’s editorial says, “No-one would expect this paper to approve ‘The Life of Brian’ if it is even half as bad as its critics say. The most objectionable feature I am told is the blasphemy, overt and implied in the film.

“However, one reviewer has said that it is not Christ who is mocked so much as his fallible followers: that the film is satirical and holds a mir-

ror to the reality that is, a reality of establishment hypocrisy, the gullibility of mobs, and the pomposity of hierarchies in general.

“Now if that is true it is the Churches and the powers-that-be that are being lampooned. Here is no blasphemy, they are not God. After all, you cannot blaspheme a church. We are fair game for laughter and a send-up anytime.

“However, if society finds it funny and slapstock humour to laugh at Brian on a cross or Jesus on a cross it has surely hit rock bottom in cruel insensitivity.”