Persian Lessons
Persian Lessons | |
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Directed by | Vadim Perelman |
Written by | Ilya Tsofin |
Produced by |
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Starring | Nahuel Pérez Biscayart |
Cinematography | Vladislav Opelyants |
Edited by | Vessela Martschewski |
Production companies |
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Release date |
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Running time | 127 minutes |
Countries | |
Languages | German Persian French English Italian |
Persian Lessons (German: Persischstunden) is a 2020 Russian-Belarusian 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.[1] However, the film was disqualified by the Academy, due to the majority of individuals involved in making the film not coming from Belarus.[2]
Synopsis[]
A Jewish man in a German concentration camp pretends he is from Iran and is then forced to teach Persian, a language he does not speak, to a Nazi.[3]
Cast[]
- Nahuel Pérez Biscayart as Gilles
- Lars Eidinger as Klaus Koch
- Jonas Nay as Max
- David Schütter as Paul
- Alexander Beyer as Camp Commandant
- Andreas Hofer as Adjutant von Dewitz
- Leonie Benesch as Elsa
- Giuseppe Schillaci as Marco Rossi
Production[]
The script of the film was first written in Russian, then translated into English and eventually into German. The fake version of Persian spoken in the film was invented by the director and a Russian linguist, developing a grammar and a 600-word dictionary.[4]
Release[]
Persian Lessons premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival on 22 February 2020.[5] In December 2020, Russia submitted the film to the 78th annual Golden Globes competition.[6] The film was released in China on 19 March 2021.[7]
See also[]
- List of submissions to the 93rd Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film
- List of Belarusian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
References[]
- ^ Vourlias, Christopher (1 December 2020). "Belarus Selects Vadim Perelman's 'Persian Lessons' for International Feature Film Oscar Race". Variety. Variety Media, LLC. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
- ^ Ravindran, Manori (8 January 2021). "Belarus Oscar Entry 'Persian Lessons' Pulled From International Feature Film Race". Variety. Variety Media, LLC. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- ^ van Hoeij, Boyd (4 March 2020). "'Persian Lessons': Film Review Berlin 2020". The Hollywood Reporter. PMRC. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
- ^ "'Persian Lessons' Eidinger, Perelman Say Film Offers Parallels for Today". Variety. 22 February 2020.
- ^ Debruge, Peter (22 February 2020). "'Persian Lessons': Film Review". Variety. Variety Media, LLC. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ Sar, Ali (2 December 2020). "Russia Sends 3 Films to the Golden Globe Awards". The Moscow Times. MoscowTimes LLC. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
- ^ "China Box Office: Vadim Perelman's 'Persian Lessons' Gets March Release Date". Hollywood Reporter. 10 March 2021.
External links[]
- 2020 films
- 2020 drama films
- Belarusian films
- German-language films
- Persian-language films
- Films directed by Vadim Perelman
- Films about language