Persian Lessons

Persian Lessons is a 2020 German-Russian-Belarusian war drama film directed by Vadim Perelman. The film was partially inspired by the short story Erfindung einer Sprache by German writer Wolfgang Kohlhaase. It was selected as the Belarusian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards. However, the film was disqualified by the Academy, due to the majority of individuals involved in making the film not coming from Belarus. Plot To prevent being shot, Gilles, a Belgian Jew who speaks French and German, tells German soldiers he is Persian, despite having no knowledge of Farsi, the Persian language. They bring him to a concentration camp where Koch, the deputy commandant, asks to be taught the Persian language. Calling himself Reza, Gilles works for Koch in the kitchen, and invents "Persian" words to fool Koch and stay alive. Koch hopes to learn 2,000 words in two years. He intends to visit Tehran after the war to start a restaurant. Section Leader Max warns Koch that Reza is lying about being Persian.