UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE
Review by Jordan Tobin
Set in a seemingly parallel universe where Tehran and Winnipeg coalesce and Persian is the primary language, Matthew Rankin’s second feature UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE is a visually pleasing spectacle that delicately conveys the search for connection through extreme distance and proximity. Canada’s worthy 2025 Oscar submission for Best International Film takes inspiration from the great Iranian directors, notably Abbas Kiarostami and his 1987 film WHERE IS THE FRIEND’S HOUSE?, which explores the theme of children facing adult dilemmas and combines it with the erratic and deadpan humour of Wes Anderson and Jacques Tati.
Situated in a bleak, snowy Winnipeg, filled with 20th century brutalist architecture, we follow three stories that obscurely entwine. The first focuses on two sisters (Rojina Esmaeili and Saba Vahedyousefi), who find a banknote frozen in some ice and undergo a humorous and well-meaning journey to try to salvage it. This is juxtaposed with that of a tour guide (Pirouz Nemati), who gives an eccentric walking tour of Winnipeg where you can see such attractions as ‘The Forgotten Briefcase’. And lastly, as an autobiographical account, the film’s director Matthew Rankin quits his job in Montreal and returns to his home in Winnipeg to try to reconnect with his mother. There’s certainly some ambiguity about how these stories will resolve, but it eventually becomes clear that the focus is set on identity, misdirection and how we deal with unexpected situations.
Despite the oppressive architecture, established in the naming of each district after the colour of brick most prominently used (e.g. the Beige District), the setting is anything but an eyesore. On the contrary, each frame has its own personality filled with deep, rich colour, which is only accentuated by the impression of being shot on film. The blending of surreal imagery and long still shots helps the story flow in an unconventional way. The humour that is prevalent throughout the film takes a back seat in the final act, allowing for the sentimental sequences to play out with real emotional punch.
Brimming with absurdism and creativity, UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE is a joy to experience, offering a heartfelt look at the roles we play in life and the ways in which we try to understand people better.