After thousands of movies about Nazis and concentration camps, one could think that nothing new can be said. But again, this movie surprises with an original and captivating story of a survivor.
In my opinion, though, the story of this Persian teacher is just a bonus. The main point of the movie is that Nazis weren't some sort of alien species from a distant planet. Yes, they were monsters. But they were human beings, with their love stories and job problems. One was dreaming about opening a restaurant, while another one was complaining that fish was to be served for lunch. It just happened that meanwhile they had to hate and kill other human beings as their daily task.
Of course, this is no excuse for the terrible crimes committed by the German nation during that time. On the contrary, it is a big warning for the rest of us.
It is very comfortable to think that we are immune, but we should all realize that, under specific conditions, all human societies are capable of the worse. Some of us could become the next Nazis if we don't learn from history. So, please, let's protect and cherish our fragile democracies!
Plot summary
1942. Gilles, a young Belgian man, is arrested by the SS alongside other Jews and sent to a concentration camp in Germany. He narrowly avoids execution by swearing to the guards that he is not Jewish, but Persian. This lie temporarily saves him, but then Gilles is assigned a seemingly untenable mission: to teach Persian to Koch, the officer in charge of the camp's kitchen, who dreams of opening a restaurant in Persia (Iran) once the war is over. Gilles finds himself having to invent a language he doesn't know, word by word. As the unusual relationship between the two men begins to incite jealousy and suspicion, Gilles becomes acutely aware that one false move could expose his swindle.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Movie Reviews
Remarkable
An unusual and gripping storyline
Excellent storyline and acting with suspenseful moments. Very moving psychological thriller played out beautifully. A very good watch.
Contrived, but with interesting aspects
'Persian Lessons' tells a tale that could be thought of as an offbeat twist on 'Schindler's List'. A Nazi resolves to save a prisoner - but just one - and for the odd reason that the man can teach him Farsi. The man is in fact lying and is making the language up as he goes from the names of dead prisoners; the Nazi seems to know he is being lied to, but is so attached to the dream of living in Iran that he allows himself to believe. Parts of the dynamic are quite interesting, particularly the way the Nazi manages moments of decency against the backdrop of the despicable behaviour he engages in the rest of the time; but overall, the story feels a little far fetched. I'm sure there are amazing true stories of people who survived the holocaust through unlikely chance and personal connections; but I'm not sure this unlikely fiction does that much to shed new light on these terrible events.