I am so giddy that you included Universal Language on this list. It's a film I'm still kicking myself for missing during VIFF last year (and it's still sitting on my watchlist!). I've heard so much praise, and now your write-up... I'll have to carve out some time to watch it very soon (especially considering you name-dropped Abbas Kiarostami, Roy Andersson, and Aki Kaurismäki —all filmmakers I'm a huge fan of).
Yes, please watch Universal Language! I'd be really interested in your take. I really dug the director Matthew Rankin's last film, The Twentieth Century (which was surreally comedic and closer to Guy Maddin aesthetically), but I feel Universal Language is more expansive in drawing on other influences. I do think Rankin is doing his own thing, though. Actually, it's funny, in looking over my list, the Canadian contingent is quite strong between the Cronenberg, Concrete Valley, The Heirloom, and Universal Language. :) 🇨🇦
I noticed that, too!! I was a big fan of The Shrouds (just recently checked it out), but I'm slacking on the other Canadian releases. Gotta fix that :)
I am so giddy that you included Universal Language on this list. It's a film I'm still kicking myself for missing during VIFF last year (and it's still sitting on my watchlist!). I've heard so much praise, and now your write-up... I'll have to carve out some time to watch it very soon (especially considering you name-dropped Abbas Kiarostami, Roy Andersson, and Aki Kaurismäki —all filmmakers I'm a huge fan of).
Yes, please watch Universal Language! I'd be really interested in your take. I really dug the director Matthew Rankin's last film, The Twentieth Century (which was surreally comedic and closer to Guy Maddin aesthetically), but I feel Universal Language is more expansive in drawing on other influences. I do think Rankin is doing his own thing, though. Actually, it's funny, in looking over my list, the Canadian contingent is quite strong between the Cronenberg, Concrete Valley, The Heirloom, and Universal Language. :) 🇨🇦
I noticed that, too!! I was a big fan of The Shrouds (just recently checked it out), but I'm slacking on the other Canadian releases. Gotta fix that :)