From Oscar Shortlists to New Horizons: Matthew Rankin's Ambitious Dual Film Projects

# From Oscar Shortlists to New Horizons: Matthew Rankin's Ambitious Dual Film Projects

Fresh off the success of his Oscar-shortlisted surreal comedy "Universal Language," Winnipeg filmmaker Matthew Rankin is diving headfirst into two distinctly ambitious new cinematic projects that promise to showcase his signature experimental style in fascinating new territories.

The acclaimed director is channelling his creative energy into two new films: one probing Canada's conservative legacy and another exploring the world's most famous constructed language—projects that, while seemingly disparate, both align perfectly with Rankin's penchant for finding the extraordinary within the seemingly mundane.

## The Oscar-Shortlisted Foundation

Rankin's "Universal Language," which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and was selected as Canada's official entry for the 97th Academy Awards, sees the co-writer/director play himself alongside a Farsi- and French-speaking cast in an alternate universe where Winnipeg, Quebec and Tehran converge as one. The film made the prestigious shortlist of 15 films for Best International Feature, marking a significant achievement for Canadian cinema and establishing Rankin as a filmmaker capable of creating work that resonates on an international stage.

The success of "Universal Language" has positioned Rankin uniquely within the Canadian film landscape. His ability to blend absurdist comedy with deeply personal and cultural themes while maintaining accessibility has created a template that he now appears ready to apply to entirely new subject matter.

## Project One: Excavating Conservative History

Rankin's first upcoming project will delve into the complex history and evolution of Canada's Progressive Conservative Party—a subject that might seem antithetical to his previous avant-garde approach but actually represents a logical extension of his interest in exploring Canadian identity through unconventional lenses.

The Progressive Conservative Party's journey from its formation in 1942 through its various incarnations, mergers, and ideological shifts offers rich material for Rankin's experimental collage style. The party's history encompasses everything from the pragmatic leadership of John Diefenbaker to the controversial tenure of Brian Mulroney, the party's near-extinction in 1993, and its eventual merger with the Canadian Alliance to form today's Conservative Party of Canada.

For a filmmaker who thrives on exploring cultural intersections and alternate realities, the PC Party's evolution provides a fascinating case study in how political movements adapt, fragment, and reconstitute themselves over time. Rankin's approach will likely avoid traditional documentary conventions, instead creating a layered narrative that examines how conservative ideology has shaped and been shaped by Canadian society.

## Project Two: The Universal Language of Esperanto

His second project will focus on Esperanto, described as "the world's most famous made-up language". This choice feels particularly resonant given the title of his Oscar-shortlisted film and his ongoing fascination with linguistic barriers and communication.

Created in 1887 by Polish doctor L.L. Zamenhof, Esperanto was designed as an easy-to-learn international auxiliary language that could foster global communication and understanding. Today, it's spoken by an estimated 2 million people worldwide, making it the most successful constructed language in history.

For Rankin, Esperanto represents the ultimate collision between utopian idealism and practical reality—themes that have consistently appeared in his work. The language was born from a desire to create universal understanding, yet it remains largely marginalized despite its relative success among constructed languages. This paradox offers perfect material for Rankin's style, which often finds profound meaning in the gaps between intention and reality.

## The Signature Experimental Collage Style

What makes these projects particularly intriguing is how Rankin plans to approach them through his established experimental collage methodology. Rather than creating straightforward documentaries or narrative films, Rankin's style typically involves layering different visual and narrative elements to create something that feels both familiar and completely alien.

In "Universal Language," this approach manifested as a film that seamlessly blended different cultures and languages in ways that felt both absurd and emotionally authentic. For his new projects, we can expect similar techniques: perhaps archival footage of PC Party conventions interwoven with contemporary political commentary and fictional elements, or Esperanto speakers from different eras and cultures brought together in impossible conversations.

This collage approach allows Rankin to examine his subjects from multiple angles simultaneously, avoiding the limitations of linear storytelling while creating space for viewers to draw their own connections and conclusions.

## The Connective Thread

While these projects might seem unrelated—Canadian political history and a constructed international language—they share thematic DNA that makes perfect sense within Rankin's filmography. Both subjects deal with attempts to create unity: the Progressive Conservative Party sought to unite different strands of Canadian conservatism, while Esperanto aimed to unite humanity through a common tongue.

Both also represent fascinating case studies in how idealistic visions encounter complex realities. The PC Party's evolution reflects the messy nature of democratic politics and the challenge of maintaining coherent ideology across changing times. Esperanto's story illuminates the gap between linguistic theory and human behavior, between the desire for universal communication and the stubborn persistence of cultural specificity.

## Looking Forward

Rankin's decision to tackle these subjects suggests a filmmaker confident in his ability to find compelling stories in unexpected places. After proving with "Universal Language" that experimental cinema can achieve both critical acclaim and international recognition, he's positioning himself to explore even more challenging terrain.

For audiences who have followed Rankin's career, these projects promise to deliver the kind of thought-provoking, visually inventive work that has become his signature. For newcomers drawn by the success of "Universal Language," they offer an opportunity to see how a truly original cinematic voice approaches entirely different subject matter while maintaining the qualities that make his work distinctive.

As Canadian cinema continues to gain international recognition, Rankin's ambitious dual projects represent the kind of bold creative choices that can help define a national film culture willing to take risks and explore complex themes through innovative approaches. Whether examining the intricacies of political evolution or the dreams of linguistic unity, these films promise to offer fresh perspectives on subjects that might otherwise seem familiar or distant.

The success of "Universal Language" has proven that audiences are hungry for cinema that challenges conventional narrative structures while remaining emotionally accessible. With these new projects, Matthew Rankin is positioned to continue pushing those boundaries while exploring the ever-complex relationship between idealism and reality that seems to fascinate him most.