Universal Language: The Surreal Canadian Comedy You Can’t Miss!
The Universal Language movie showcases visual quotes from renowned directors like Wes Anderson, Jacques Tati, home-town hero Guy Maddin, and Iranian maestro Abbas Kiarostami. One of Kiarostami’s works, the 1987 drama “Where Is the Friend’s House?”, serves as an inspiration here. However, Rankin isn’t confined by his cinematic influences; he creatively stamps his unique signature onto a narrative partially inspired by an event involving his grandmother. One may wonder if this dry, wintry burlesque has a broader message. Disregarding the amusing references to the Winnipeg Earmuff Authority and the man in the pink cowboy hat who serenades his turkey, the answer is affirmative: Universal Language powerfully argues for the importance of connection in a society that seeks to restrict it.