The Universal Language (2011)

The Universal Language is a new documentary from Academy Awardnominated director Sam Green The Weather Underground This 30minute 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 firstever 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