Persian Lessons 2023

In order to evade the same fate as countless other Jews being transported through France, Gilles, a Belgian Jew fluent in French and German, cleverly claims to be Persian, despite lacking any understanding of the Persian language and only possessing a Persian book. This deception lands him in a nearby concentration camp, where the ambitious deputy commandant, Klaus Koch (Lars Eidinger), eagerly desires to learn 2,000 Persian words in hope of visiting Tehran post-war to open a restaurant.

Under the alias Reza, Gilles finds himself working in the kitchen of the camp, concocting invented “Persian” terms to appease Koch and ensure his survival. Despite the challenges, such as being warned by section leader Max (Jonas Nay) of the impending danger of exposure, Gilles manages to keep up the façade. When Koch gives him a daunting task—translate 40 words without a pencil—Reza cleverly escapes while disposing of waste, only to receive advice from a Frenchman in the woods urging him to return to the camp.

Upon his return, Koch assigns him to meticulously copy a new list of inmate arrivals, deliberately omitting those who died en route. Uses his task as a technique to memorize the fabricated words—by associating them with the names in his ledger. However, Gilles’ tenuous grip on survival is tested when he faces punishment for a mistake, landing him in hard labor and later recuperating in the camp hospital after collapsing.

As tensions rise, other camp officers express concern over Koch’s behavior, leading to Elsa (Leonie Benesch) being reinstated as bookkeeper. Amidst accusations of gossip against him, Koch suspects Elsa of spreading rumors about him and promptly sends her to the Russian front. Meanwhile, Gilles takes a meal to a deaf Italian man he previously witnessed being beaten, and his grateful brother promises protection. However, tragedy strikes when Max uncovers Gilles’ potential deceit; the Italian brother kills a revealing prisoner but ultimately meets his fate at Max’s hands.

Realizing that Gilles is being transported with fellow prisoners to a death camp, Koch desperately intervenes, only for the commandant, Beyer (Alexander Beyer), to issue orders for execution of remaining inmates as the American Army approaches. Defying orders, Koch leads Gilles out of the camp under the ruse of being transferred.

In a moment of treachery, Koch brings Gilles deep into the woods, with plans to escape to Iran alone. Yet, upon reaching Tehran, local customs officials find his version of Persian incomprehensible, leading to his arrest. After navigating his way to the American lines, Gilles is interrogated about the atrocities of the concentration camp, where he astonishingly recites the full names of 2,840 individuals—testament to his extraordinary memory and the connections he forged amidst despair.