Universal Language (2024) | Rotten Tomatoes (2025)

95% Tomatometer 82 Reviews 79% 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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Universal Language

Universal Language

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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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Critics Reviews

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Universal Language (2024) | Rotten Tomatoes (1) 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 Full Review Universal Language (2024) | Rotten Tomatoes (2) 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 Full Review Universal Language (2024) | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Tim Cogshell FilmWeek (LAist) It is all so funny and absurd, I loved it. May 8, 2025 Full Review Universal Language (2024) | Rotten Tomatoes (4) 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 Full Review Universal Language (2024) | Rotten Tomatoes (5) 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 Full Review Universal Language (2024) | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Simon Miraudo Movie Squad (RTRFM 92.1) A comforting stew of influences ranging from Guy Maddin to Aki Kaurismaki to Roy Andersson to Abbas Kiarostami. Thankfully the sleepy middle section is leavened by a cosmic finale. Rated: 3/5 May 23, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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LTK Not what you will expect Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/19/25 Full Review 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 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 06/23/25 Full Review 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 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/08/25 Full Review George T Surreal, mesmerizing, touching, hilarious. Very Farsi and extremely Canadian. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/29/25 Full Review Laurie F This is a language I do not understand. Disconnected scenarios and disengaging performances. Such a waste of communal effort. Rated 1.5/5 Stars • Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 05/27/25 Full Review 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 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/27/25 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

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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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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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Universal Language (2024) | Rotten Tomatoes (2025)

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