The Universal Language (2011)

The Universal Language (2011) poster

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.

Director: Sam Green
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 31 min
Release Date:

Screenplay

Music: T. Griffin, Dennis Cronin, Catherine McRae
Editing: Sam Green, Shannon Kennedy
Production: The Free History Project
Country: United States of America
Language: English, Esperanto
Budget: $100,000
Original Language: en

Keywords

language barrier, language, language and communication, native language, international communication, language history

More Films by Director: Sam Green
More Films in Genre: Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

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.
How long is The Universal Language?
The Universal Language has a runtime of 31m (31 minutes).
What genre is The Universal Language?
The Universal Language is a Documentary film.
What is the budget of The Universal Language?
The Universal Language had a budget of $100,000.
Where was The Universal Language produced?
The Universal Language was produced in United States of America.