Universal Language

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2:08

Universal Language

Feb 2025

1h 29m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

83 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

In a mysterious and surreal interzone somewhere between Tehran and Winnipeg, the lives of multiple characters interweave with each other in surprising and mysterious ways. Gradeschoolers Negin and Nazgol find a sum of money frozen in the winter ice and try to claim it. Meanwhile, Massoud leads a group of increasingly-befuddled tourists through the monuments and historic sites of Winnipeg. Matthew quits his meaningless job in a Québecois government office and sets out upon an enigmatic journey to visit his mother. Space, time and personal identities crossfade, interweave and echo into a surreal comedy of misdirection.

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Critics Consensus

Bridging two nations with a clever and surreal conceit, Universal Language is a culture clash comedy brimming with wisdom.

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Stephen Romei

The Australian

This is an unconventional film that slowly drew me in. There’s a tenderness about it as the boundaries between the characters loosen.

Rated: 3/5

May 23, 2025

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Jake Wilson

Sydney Morning Herald

...I can imagine in principle how it might be possible to find Universal Language a moving experience, even without being familiar with any of its reference points. But I'm bound to say it left me pretty cold.

Rated: 2.5/5

May 22, 2025

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Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (LAist)

It is all so funny and absurd, I loved it.

May 8, 2025

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Calvin Law

The Asian Cut

That Rankin segues from all this enjoyable humour into something quite strangely moving as we delve further into his stories, is quite impressive.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jul 31, 2025

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Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

... a bittersweet consideration of what it means to belong to a family, a city, a country.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jul 2, 2025

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Filipe Freitas

Always Good Movies

His [Rankin] movie comes with a hard core of disillusionment but also hope in humanity, and viewers in tune with his offbeat sensibilities will enjoy both the deadpan humor and the bold unconventional choices.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 3, 2025

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LTK

Not what you will expect

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/19/25

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Fong Kok Hoong F

Three intertwining subplots of two girls attempting to claim a banknote frozen in ice, a tour guide ushering disinterested tourists to questionable places of interest and an autobiographical character returning home to visit his mother made up this oddball headscratcher but perhaps tongue-in-cheek for Persian and Canadian audiences in this Canadian entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards that is set in an alternate reality of a Farsi-speaking Winnipeg with Iranian influences.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

06/23/25

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Matthew R

This whole movie went completely over my head. I may not be a smart as i think i am. However, it had its moments and at times was humorous. So it wasn't terrible it was just too high brow for me.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/08/25

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George T

Surreal, mesmerizing, touching, hilarious. Very Farsi and extremely Canadian.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/29/25

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Laurie F

This is a language I do not understand. Disconnected scenarios and disengaging performances. Such a waste of communal effort.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

05/27/25

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Wayne M

Universal Language is a strange and delightful film, an unconventional film to say the least. It's full of odd humour and unique charm. This wonderful film is set in a somewhat alternate reality in the Canadian city of Winnipeg where Persian is the main language, with French sitting beside it. We follow a few interconnecting stories that eventaully come together at the end of the film. We see best friends who find money frozen in ice. Then we have a tour guide who takes groups to random and unimportant places like parking lots. Finally there is Matthew, who returns home to Winnipeg to look after his mother. There are so many surreal moments in this film. Strange characters bounce in and out and small details float by. It's often surreal and absurd, but the film gives off a warm and comforting glow. The film was made by Montreal director Matthew Rankin who also appears in the film. He has made a unique and odd film, but one that is very appealing.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/27/25

Full Review

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Matthew Rankin

Director

Rojina Esmaeili

Actor

Danielle Fichaud

Actor

Sobhan Javadi

Actor

Saba Vahedyousefi

Nazgol

Pirouz Nemati

Massoud

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Universal Language: Trailer 1

2:08

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Synopsis

In a mysterious and surreal interzone somewhere between Tehran and Winnipeg, the lives of multiple characters interweave with each other in surprising and mysterious ways. Gradeschoolers Negin and Nazgol find a sum of money frozen in the winter ice and try to claim it. Meanwhile, Massoud leads a group of increasingly-befuddled tourists through the monuments and historic sites of Winnipeg. Matthew quits his meaningless job in a Québecois government office and sets out upon an enigmatic journey to visit his mother. Space, time and personal identities crossfade, interweave and echo into a surreal comedy of misdirection.

Director: Matthew Rankin
Producer: Sylvain Corbeil
Screenwriter: Pirouz Nemati, Ila Firouzabadi, Matthew Rankin
Distributor: Oscilloscope Laboratories
Production Co: Metafilms
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: Persian
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 14, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 1h 29m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.66:1)

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