“A Universal Language”: Winnipeg, a Persian city

Published on December 4, 2024 at 10:07.

2 mins. reading

Last week, we were sorry for the ineffective quirks of the promising Grand Tourby Portuguese director Miguel Gomes, Best Director Award at Cannes. Parallel section of the same festival, the Quinzaine des filmmakers presented in the spring A universal languageby Matthew Rankin, a Canadian film also based on strange discrepancies. Starting with that of a city in Winnipeg that has become Persian, where everyone speaks Farsi! In a succession of disjointed vignettes with a style modeled on the films that established the names of Abbas Kiarostami, Mohsen Makhmalbaf and Jafar Panahi, we say to ourselves that the lovely idea of ​​this heir of Guy Maddin – the great surrealist filmmaker from Winnipeg – will quickly plateau. And then, miraculously, everything falls into place to produce a strangely enchanting and inhabited film. So, sometimes it’s important to be wary of reputations…

The opening sequence in a school classroom is a perfect departure from Iranian cinema of the 1980s and 1990s, with its kid pleading that a turkey stole his glasses, causing the teacher to despair. Later, two little girls discover a 500 rial note stuck in the ice (it is winter) and look for a solution to recover it, with the idea of ​​allowing the boy to buy a new pair. During this time, a guide introduces a small group of tourists to the “curiosities” of the city: a jungle of large modern buildings, with rare historical memories reduced accordingly, like this stele in memory of Louis Riel, founding father controversial in Manitoba, located at the tip of a highway intersection.

Follow the news with us and support demanding and daring journalism

For the end-of-year holidays, take advantage of -25% on your annual subscription ????

Quality information just a click away. Offer valid until December 25, 2024.

I subscribe

Already have an account?
Log in