Persian Lessons
Belarus, Feature Film, 2020, 127 min

Occupied France, 1942. Gilles is arrested by SS soldiers alongside other Jews and sent to a camp in Germany. He narrowly avoids sudden execution by swearing to the guards that he is not Jewish, but Persian. This lie temporarily saves him, but Gilles gets assigned a life-or-death mission: to teach Farsi to the head of Camp Koch, who dreams of opening a restaurant in Iran once the war is over. Through an ingenious trick, Gilles manages to survive by inventing words of “Farsi” every day and teaching them to Koch. The particular relationship between the two men sparks the jealousy of other prisoners and SS guards towards Gilles. And while the suspicions of Koch grow every day, Gilles understands that he will not be able to keep his secret very long. Subtitled

Directed by Vadim Perelman
Colorado Premiere

Watch trailer

Tickets

$18 General Admission, $16 Seniors/students, $14 Museum members

BIFF 2022 in Longmont

See Boulder International Film Festival in Longmont to purchase a BIFF Longmont Pass and to see all BIFF films showing in Longmont.

Please Note: Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 is required to attend all BIFF films in the Stewart Auditorium. Attendees are strongly encouraged to wear masks. Read our full mask & vaccination policy.