Universal Language

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2:08

Universal Language

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1h 29m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

96%

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73 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 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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Ty Burr

Washington Post

It is as far from the commercial mainstream as narrative filmmaking gets, but for connoisseurs of the poetic bizarre, it has its very real enchantments.

Rated: 3/4

Feb 28, 2025

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David Fear

Rolling Stone

There is no single category that you can slot Rankin’s mix of a wink, a nudge and an embrace into, so we guess “lo-fi masterpiece” will have to do until a better option comes along.

Feb 19, 2025

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Jake Coyle

Associated Press

I’ve not gone long without thinking about “Universal Language.” I guess Rankin’s movie dream has filtered into those of my own.

Rated: 3.5/4

Feb 15, 2025

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Ferdosa Abdi

Screen Rant

Matthew Rankin avoids all expectations and goes for a visual and narrative approach that is constantly unexpected and dizzyingly charming.

Rated: 9/10

Apr 11, 2025

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Ayaan Paul Chowdhury

The Hindu

[Universal Language] is at once a cinematic love letter, an identity crisis, and a melancholic joke told with such straight-faced sincerity that it loops back to something surprisingly profound.

Mar 14, 2025

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Monica Reid

Far Out Magazine

Rankin’s efforts are held back somewhat by the often confusing and obscure content, but the quirky comedy and the movingly expressed theme overcome its cryptic storyline.

Rated: 3.5/5

Mar 4, 2025

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LTK

Not what you will expect

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/19/25

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David G

A wry and subtle comedy that had the audience laughing and happy. The setting is cold and brutal, while the people were warm and lovable.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/15/25

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joel g

this movie will throw you into such a deep sleep in 45 minutes you will feel like you got hit with a dart to the neck.. It is SUBTITLES!!!.. but this is NOT what makes this movie BAD.. Its EVERYTHING else including a horrible plot.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/08/25

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james g

one of there smartest and simple concepts executed with a charm of an indie where the filmmakers are as talented as they are gifted

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/07/25

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Kelly M

A programmers wacky, half-baked, wet dream.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/28/25

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Moody C

This is like a low budget international Wes Anderson film with subtle humor and very visual palette. Although there is really no story here, it is a pleasant experience that does not overstay its welcome.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/18/25

Full Review

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Matthew Rankin

Director

Rojina Esmaeili

Actor

Danielle Fichaud

Actor

Sobhan Javadi

Actor

Saba Vahedyousefi

Nazgol

Pirouz Nemati

Massoud

Weak Layers

40%

91%

Weak Layers

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Christmess

100%

71%

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98%

83%

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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, Pirouz Nemati, Ila Firouzabadi
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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