‘Universal Language’ Quebec premiere following global recognition

After winning 15 awards and being featured in 90 festivals worldwide, A Universal Language, directed by Matthew Rankin, is ready for its Quebec premiere on January 31.

“I think it has a real measure unfortunately of the very great rigidity and severity and cruelty of our current era that a movie such as ours which is a very light very tender very gentle piece could inspire such connection, I think it’s a measure of you know the real gentleness shortage in the world,” said Rankin.

Montrealers will soon get the chance to experience this surreal reinterpretation of Winnipeg, where Canada’s two official languages are French and Farsi, instead of English.

The film offers a personal glimpse into Rankin’s hometown, blending a unique tribute to Iranian cinema with an imaginative world full of surreal twists, turkeys, and a Tim Hortons like you’ve never seen before.

“A movie that is sort of at the confluence of three spheres and it’s really working through cinematic codes of cinematic language, sort of Iranian poetry, Winnipeg surrealism and Quebecois melancholy kind of brought into a métissage and the idea is to create a new space at the confluence of all three,” said Rankin.

Ila Firouzabadi, a co-writer & executive producer, says, “I would say that was like a hallucinative dream movie that involves so many creative people and so many art going on and so many languages, but not just like Farsi or French. There is like a gesture language going on which is for us was tenderness, friendship, being together and solidarity.”

Rankin himself plays “Matthew,” a man who quits his job with the Quebec government and heads to Winnipeg to live with his mother, but Matthew is surprised to find that Massoud, a Winnipeg tour guide played by Pirouz Nemati, has been caring for her in his absence. This unexpected turn of events is a tribute to Iranian hospitality, reflecting the influence of the film’s Iranian crew.

“This hospitality, this kind of warm welcoming of Iranian community is a big part of our culture, you know, the guest is very important to us a visitor we put everything for them,” said Pirouz Nemati, a co-writer & executive producer.

The film is available with English or French subtitles. Premiering worldwide at Cannes Film Festival’s Directors’ Fortnight last may, the film has had a remarkable journey.

An incredible experience for the young Rojina Esmaeili and Saba Vahedyousefi, who made their screen debut.

“I think it’s really precious that we had the chance to play in such a good movie that like made such a big success,” said Vahedyousefi.