Winter. Somewhere between Tehran and Winnipeg, Negin and Nazgol discover a large sum of money frozen deep within the sidewalk ice and attempt to retrieve it. Meanwhile, Massoud leads a group of bewildered tourists on an increasingly absurd walking tour of Winnipeg’s monuments and historic sites. Matthew, having left his job with the Québec government, embarks on a mysterious journey to reconnect with his estranged mother. Time, geography, and identities blur, intertwining and colliding in a surreal comedy of misdirection.

Following a series of celebrated experimental short films and a highly acclaimed feature debut (The Twentieth Century, 2019), which showcased Rankin’s absurdist, intelligent, and poignant tone, Universal Language has garnered widespread acclaim. From its premiere at Cannes’ Director’s Fortnight to accolades around the globe, the film has achieved remarkable recognition. It is listed on TIFF’s annual Canada’s Top Ten list, featured among the prestigious Top 5 films of the National Board of Review, and is currently shortlisted for the Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film.

Canada (Quebec)

French and Persian with English subtitles

89 minutes