The Universal Language
Synopsis
The Universal Language is a new documentary from Academy Award-nominated director Sam Green (The Weather Underground). This 30-minute film traces the history of Esperanto, an artificial language that was created in the late 1800s by a Polish eye doctor who believed that if everyone in the world spoke a common tongue, humanity could overcome racism and war. Fittingly, the word “Esperanto” means “one who hopes.” During the early 20th century, hundreds of thousands of people around the world spoke Esperanto and believed in its ideals. Today, surprisingly, a vibrant Esperanto movement still exists. In this first-ever documentary about Esperanto, Green creates a portrait of the language and those who speak it today that is at once humorous, poignant, stirring, and ultimately hopeful.
Release History & Theatrical Window
Full Frame Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
October 10, 2011
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$100K
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
Pending
Total global ticket sales
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Sam Green
- Screenplay & Story
- Sam Green, Shannon Kennedy
- Original Score
- Dennis Cronin, T. Griffin, Catherine McRae
- Original Title
- The Universal Language
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English, Esperanto
- Runtime
- 31m
- Production Budget
- $100K
- Production Studios
- The Free History Project
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Sam Green
Sam Green, Shannon Kennedy
Dennis Cronin, T. Griffin, Catherine McRae
Shannon Kennedy, Sam Green
Sam Green, Carrie Lozano
Department Leadership Roster
Sam Green
Producer
Sam Green
Director
Shannon Kennedy
Editor
Sam Green
Writer
Shannon Kennedy
Writer
Sam Green
Editor
Dennis Cronin
Original Music Composer
T. Griffin
Original Music Composer
Catherine McRae
Original Music Composer
Carrie Lozano
Producer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Universal Language.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Universal Language.
MovieLens[50K:]
Similar Titles to The Universal Language
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
10.0
7.3
6.1
9.0
4.5
10.0
2.0
More Like The Universal Language
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Universal Language
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Universal Language about?
The Universal Language is a new documentary from Academy Award-nominated director Sam Green (The Weather Underground). This 30-minute film traces the history of Esperanto, an artificial language that was created in the late 1800s by a Polish eye doctor who believed that if everyone in the world spoke a common tongue, humanity could overcome racism and war. Fittingly, the word “Esperanto” means “one who hopes.” During the early 20th century, hundreds of thousands of people around the world spoke Esperanto and believed in its ideals. Today, surprisingly, a vibrant Esperanto movement still exists. In this first-ever documentary about Esperanto, Green creates a portrait of the language and those who speak it today that is at once humorous, poignant, stirring, and ultimately hopeful.
Who directed The Universal Language?
The Universal Language was directed by Sam Green.
Who stars in The Universal Language?
The principal cast of The Universal Language includes Not specified.
When was The Universal Language released and how long is it?
The Universal Language was released in 2011 with a total runtime of 31m.
Who composed the musical score for The Universal Language?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Universal Language was composed by Dennis Cronin, T. Griffin, Catherine McRae.