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Farhang Foundation is proud to partner
with the Newport Beach Film Festival
in presenting the Orange County premiere for

Universal Language

A Film by Matthew Rankin

Oct 24, 5pm

In Persian and French with English subtitles

Big Newport 5

Starring:
Rojina Esmaeili
Saba Vahedyousefi
Sobhan Javadi

In Universal Language, acclaimed director Matthew Rankin spins a surreal and heartfelt tale set in his hometown of Winnipeg, weaving together threads of identity, belonging, and cultural dissonance. The film follows two Iranian high school students, Nazgol and Hossein, as they embark on a peculiar quest to help their classmate recover a lost Iranian banknote, a small but significant piece of home that symbolizes connection to a culture far away. Meanwhile, a fictionalized version of Rankin himself leaves his life in Montreal, returning to Winnipeg to reconnect with his family. There, he meets Massoud, a charismatic Iranian tour guide who moonlights as a caregiver for Rankin’s elderly mother.

As their lives intertwine, Rankin, Nazgol, and Hossein explore the landscapes of memory, displacement, and the quest for cultural roots amid Winnipeg’s snowy streets and quirky charms. Through poetic visuals and a mix of absurdist humor, Universal Language poignantly examines the delicate and sometimes humorous ways we hold onto heritage, finding universal connections in seemingly unlikely places. The result is a moving mosaic that celebrates human connection across borders and generations, rendered with Rankin’s signature eccentric style and bold, imaginative storytelling.

Director: Matthew Rankin

Writers: Ila Firouzabadi, Pirouz Nemati, Matthew Rankin

Cast/Featuring: Rojina Esmaeili, Saba Vahedyousefi, Sobhan Javadi, Pirouz Nemati, Mani Soleymanlou, Danielle Fichaud

Producer:  Sylvain Corbeil

Cinematography: Isabelle Stachtchenko

Editor: Xi Feng

Music: Amir Amiri, Christophe Lamarche-Ledoux

Year: 2024

Running Time: 89 minutes

Country: Canada

Languages: French, Persian

About Matthew Rankin

Matthew Rankin is a Canadian filmmaker celebrated for his distinctive blend of historical satire, surrealism, and experimental aesthetics. Born in Winnipeg, Rankin developed a unique cinematic voice that draws from silent cinema, avant-garde film, and the absurd, creating works that are as visually striking as they are thematically bold. His films often blend fact and fiction, exploring themes of Canadian identity, cultural memory, and the oddities of historical events through an irreverent lens.

Rankin gained international attention with The Twentieth Century (2019), a darkly humorous reimagining of Canada’s political past, which won multiple awards and established him as an inventive voice in contemporary cinema. His earlier works, including short films like The Tesla World Light and Tabula Rasa, have been showcased at major festivals, including Cannes, Sundance, and TIFF, earning him a reputation as a fearless storyteller who pushes cinematic boundaries.

In his latest film, Universal Language, Rankin merges his trademark style with deeply personal themes, examining cultural identity and the immigrant experience in his hometown. Known for his playful yet profound approach, Rankin continues to challenge audiences, blending art and history with humor and imagination to offer fresh perspectives on the complexities of human experience.