A Belgian Jew named Gilles narrowly avoids execution by a Nazi firing squad when he claims to be Persian. Desperate to save himself, he offers to teach Farsi to the savage head of the camp. Gilles, unforgettably portrayed by Nahuel Pérez Biscayart, does not know the language so he invents one. A fable about language and memory. Sponsored by The Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany
‘A surprisingly effective high-wire act that pays off in large part thanks to the discreet but ultimately emotionally overwhelming performance of its lead actor’ Celluloid Paradiso
Read about the making of Persian Lessons.
Film Details: Drama/ Director: Vadim Perelman, Actors: Nahuel Pérez Biscayart, Lars Eidinger, Jonas Nay/Russian Federation/Germany/Belarus/2020/French, German, subtitles:English/127 minutes
Festivals: San Francisco Jewish FF, Berlin International FF, Istanbul Film Festival
