'' The Meaning of Life '' was awarded the Grand Jury Prize at the 1983 Cannes Film Festival . While the Cannes jury , led by William Styron , were fiercely split on their opinions on several films in competition , '' The Meaning of Life '' had general support , securing it the second-highest honour after the Palme d'Or for '' The Ballad of Narayama '' . At the 37th British Academy Film Awards , Andre Jacquemin , Dave Howman , Michael Palin and Terry Jones were also nominated for Original Song for " Every Sperm is Sacred . " The award went to " Up Where We Belong " in '' An Officer and a Gentleman ''
1983 Cannes Film Festival
1983 Cannes Film Festival
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life