Monty Python and the Holy Grail is an odd choice for my most impactful movie. Let me explain.

I discovered the movie thanks to my older brothers’ love of all things Monty Python. When we lived in Grand Rapids our local PBS station played Monty Python’s Flying Circus in the wee hours Saturday night/Sunday morning. I became hooked and wanted to devour all of their stuff as I could. Thus my brothers introduced me to the movies starting with Holy Grail.

At family get togethers we still quote the Pythons but no source more than the Holy Grail. It’s a short hand that closes the time gap since our last visit.

Holy Grail also is a great go-to when I need to laugh. Everyone gets overwhelmed by life from time to time even when working hard to not let the world weigh heavily on our shoulders. This film, from its title cards to low production value to bizarre closing, sweeps me away to a medieval fantasy world where the French taunt and horses are really just empty halves of coconuts banged together.

The Holy Grail and the other Python content taught me how to find the humor, mostly absurd, in life. In trying times it is a valuable skill to help maintain one’s sanity.