In a mysterious & surreal interzone somewhere between Tehran & Winnipeg, the lives of multiple characters interweave with each other in surprising & mysterious ways.
Gradeschoolers Negin & Nazgol find a sum of money frozen in the winter ice & try to claim it. Meanwhile, Massoud leads a group of increasingly-befuddled tourists through the monuments & 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.
10/10. The more I reflect on it, the more I am impressed.
FREMANTLE SHIPPING NEWS
4.5/5. Quirky, absurdist, brilliant, and irresistible.
GLAM ADELAIDE
…a revolutionary exercise in culture, wit, and most of all, fun
…a project filled with intelligence, curiosity and empathy that fuels an alternate Winnipeg with friendship instead of fear.
THE CURB
Iranian cinema emerges out of a thousand years of poetry, Rankin suggests, and Winnipeg cinema emerges out of forty years of discount furniture commercials. It’s an explanation that exemplifies the spirit of what’s going on in Universal Language. The two traditions are combined in glorious, earnest, light-hearted and unexpected ways, in a film that manages to balance quiet absurdity and optimistic warmth.
INSIDE STORY
“The best movie at Cannes this year. A magnificent film.”
NEW YORK MAGAZINE
“Beautiful, Funny Paean to Canada… between Wes Anderson and Jacques Tati”
SCREEN ANARCHY
Matthew Rankin channels the best of Iranian Cinema in absurdist Canadian comedy… Backdrops that recall the locations in Jacques Tati’s ‘Playtime… And yet, if Rankin counts Abbas Kiarostami among his influences, this project proves he’s ready for his “Close-Up”.
VARIETY
One of the most exciting directors working today, with his unique visual style and penchant for challenging narrative conventions indicating a bright future as a filmmaker… A tremendously captivating comedy.
INTERNATIONAL CINEPHILE SOCIETY
A beguiling, surrealist ode to Persian cinema… Diorama-like compositions that will call to mind both Wes and Roy Anders(s)on… The world of Universal Language feels lived-in, and those lives feel consequential. It’s like nothing I’ve seen in Cannes this year.
THE FILM STAGE
Rankin uses ‘Universal Language’ to conduct a dialogue with Iranian cinema, utilizing hallmarks of its New Wave master.
REVERSE SHOT
A magnificent film, one that feels warm and familiar even as we realize just how startlingly original it is.
VULTURE
The movie’s charm lies in its odd yet committed execution, offering a unique perspective on cultural connection and distance.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
If cinema is a universal language, it’s never been more elastically employed than in this Matthew Rankin film.
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
Universal Language’ is delightfully absurdist, with little moments in each story that both make sense yet defy expectations.
ROGER EBERT
