Lorina Kutan-Boghosian

Digital producer 

Photo Via IMDb

On February 1st, 2025, I visited Cinema du Parc to see Universal Language, directed by Matthew Rankin, with my Iranian-Armenian father. Quebec icon and director of Dune, Denis Villeneuve has stated that Universal Language is a “ pure cinematic gem.” It’s a fresh yet surreal film about culture and its diaspora. It is set in a fictional version of Winnipeg where the official language is Farsi and the Tim Hortons only serves traditional Persian tea. The plot follows two girls who find frozen cash, a tour guide who leads tourists around boring and empty Winnipeg sites, and a man who quits his job in Montreal and visits his mother back home. The film is filled with nods to Persian culture and Quebec culture. There is subtle commentary about Canadian and Quebec history. Universal Language was everything I wanted in a Canadian film. The 1hr30min runtime is in Farsi and French. If you have the chance to watch it, I highly recommend it! It’s a witty, absurd, wild turkey-filled, and thought-provoking movie that will have you wondering: What exactly is the universal language?

Afsha Akhtar Via Empire Magazine

I remember having a lot of expectations when hearing that the 2011 movie One Day based on David Nicholls’ novel would have a new modern Netflix adaptation. Not only was it being released as a television series for the first time, but it also featured a South-Asian actress (Ambika Mod) as the main protagonist and love interest. The thrill I felt when seeing someone who looked like me playing a lead role in a romantic drama was enormous. The narrative is built around a slice-of-life storytelling approach. Each episode portrays a particular day in the lives of the two protagonists, year after year. It all begins on the night of their graduation, when Dexter Mayhew (Leo Woodall), a charming posh boy from a wealthy family, and Emma Morley (Ambika Mod), a working-class woman dreaming of becoming a writer, cross paths. Despite coming from two different socioeconomic backgrounds, the two characters decide to become best friends after a failed one-night stand. Undeniably, there is a clear tension between them as they try to navigate the ups and downs of their individual lives. The chemistry and the slow-burn between the two young adults is heart-wrenching. They represent the opposite of the other while still managing to fit together as a couple. Human emotions are exquisitely portrayed throughout the series; you will find yourself laughing and crying at the end of 14 episodes.