universal language (2024) dir. matthew rankin

Iranian cinema emerges out of 1,000 years of poetry. Winnipeg cinema emerges out of 50 years of discount furniture commercials.

- Matthew Rankin

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BOTJiYzA3ZGQtNjRjNS00YjUxLWFjMTYtNjE5ODAwMDRmY2FmXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg

this was my favourite film of the year and i am starting this thread in the hopes of getting some of you to watch it

set in a parallel-universe winnipeg manitoba where farsi and french are the two official languages, it's a big warm-hearted blend of tati, maddin, and kiarostami; a visual love letter to snow-covered rotting highway infrastructure, brutalist architecture, and canadian municipal liminal spaces; an oddball comedy with an ensemble cast (including some fantastic child actors); and an experimental meditation on identity, memory, grief, work, and family

i saw it over two weeks ago and still haven't stop thinking about it. i still feel buoyed by the joy it instilled in me. really unique and wonderful film

highly recommend these interview with rankin, from which i got the above quote

https://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/in-the-name-of-friendship-matthew-rankin-on-universal-language

https://www.slantmagazine.com/features/matthew-rankin-interview-universal-language/

Yeah, caught this a couple of weeks back and really enjoyed it. I need to touch base with a Winnipeg friend who I think would find it fascinating.

Hoping there's some NZ screenings of this and we don't have to wait til the Aug/Sep intl film festival.