Universal Language
“This film longs to hold you.”
Winter. Somewhere between Tehran and Winnipeg. Negin and Nazgol find a sum of money frozen deep within the sidewalk ice and try to find a way to get it out. Massoud leads a group of befuddled tourists upon an increasingly-strange walking tour of Winnipeg historic sites. Matthew leaves his job at the Québec government and embarks upon a mysterious journey to visit his estranged mother.
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Cast
29 people
Rojina Esmaeili
Negin
No other roles listed
Saba Vahedyousefi
Nazgol
Also in
You Will Be Free
Matthew Rankin
Matthew (Massoud)
Known for
Blue Heron
Pirouz Nemati
Massoud (Matthew)
Also in
Inside Amir
Mile End Kicks
Mani Soleymanlou
Iraj Bilodeau
Known for
Outbreak
A Brother’s Love
Ila Firouzabadi
Bus Driver
No other roles listed
Sobhan Javadi
Omid
No other roles listed
Danielle Fichaud
Monsieur Castonguay
Known for
Aline
Merry Christmas
Bahram Nabatian
Hafez Ghamghosar
No other roles listed
Hemela Pourafzal
Woman with Turkey
Also in
Hemela
Dara Najmabadi
Pirouz
No other roles listed
Denis Houle
Jean
Known for
Seducing Doctor Lewis
Matthew Rankin Director · Christophe Lamarche-Ledoux Composer Amir Amiri Composer
Worldwide gross $306K · United States release September 20, 2024 · Produced in Canada
Box office
Worldwide gross
$306,051
Production
Metafilms
Production
Canada
Produced in
Languages
Original title
Une langue universelle
Original language
French
Spoken on screen
French · Persian
Release dates
France · May 18, 2024
Premiere · Cannes Directors' Fortnight
United States · September 20, 2024
Limited theatrical · Oscar Qualifying Run
United States · April 8, 2025
Digital · iTunes
United States
September 21, 2024 · Premiere · Fantastic Fest
October 7, 2024 · Premiere · New York Film Festival
October 27, 2024 · Premiere · SCAD Savannah Film Festival
February 14, 2025 · Limited theatrical
Australia
August 18, 2024 · Premiere · Melbourne International Film Festival
April 10, 2025 · Premiere · Inner West Film Festival
May 22, 2025 · Theatrical
October 25, 2025 · Premiere · Byron Bay International Film Festival
Austria
October 24, 2024 · Premiere · Vienna International Film Festival
January 24, 2025 · Theatrical
Brazil
October 4, 2024 · Premiere · Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival
Canada
September 5, 2024 · Premiere · Toronto International Film Festival
September 22, 2024 · Premiere · Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival
September 28, 2024 · Premiere · Vancouver International Film Festival
China
September 27, 2024 · Premiere · Pingyao International Film Festival
December 6, 2024 · Premiere · Hainan Island International Film Festival
April 22, 2025 · Premiere · Beijing International Film Festival
September 26, 2025 · Digital
Estonia
November 11, 2024 · Premiere · Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival
France
December 18, 2024 · Theatrical
Germany
January 23, 2025 · Theatrical
Hong Kong SAR China
April 12, 2025 · Premiere · Hong Kong International Film Festival
India
January 23, 2025 · Theatrical
Indonesia
December 6, 2024 · Premiere · Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival
Latvia
October 23, 2024 · Premiere · Riga International Film Festival
Morocco
November 30, 2024 · Premiere · Marrakech International Film Festival
Netherlands
January 31, 2025 · Premiere · International Film Festival Rotterdam
August 21, 2025 · Theatrical · Previously Unreleased
Russia
March 6, 2025 · Theatrical
Singapore
November 30, 2024 · Premiere · Singapore International Film Festival
South Korea
October 4, 2024 · Premiere · Busan International Film Festival
Taiwan
June 25, 2025 · Premiere · Taipei Film Festival
Thailand
November 10, 2024 · Premiere · World Film Festival Bangkok
Türkiye
February 28, 2025 · Limited theatrical
United Kingdom
October 13, 2024 · Premiere · BFI London Film Festival
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