The film we are going to talk about today is a shortlist for this year's Berlin International Film Festival.
At the just concluded 7th Silk Road International Film Festival, the film won the special feature film.
There are many films on the theme of World War II, and there are many films involving The Nazi concentration camps of the German army.
A little farther away, there are [Schindler's List], [Beautiful Life];
In recent years, there have been "Boy in Striped Pajamas" and "Son of Thor".
[Persian lesson] is more similar to [Beautiful Life] in tone.
But the protagonist, Giles, is not a father who protects his son, but a young man who only wants to live.
Gilles, a Belgian Jew, pretended to be Persians in the camp and even created a "fake Persian" to teach Klaus, a concentration camp officer.
His purpose is very simple, very selfish, but presumably no one will blame him, facing death, this kind of action is the most human instinct.
What sets the film apart is the brisk atmosphere of the whole film under this subject, especially when shaping the image of the German army.
At this level, there has been some controversy, and some radical viewers have thought that the move is too rash. For example, the Germans made jokes about Small dicks.
However, the portrayal of the German army as a multi-dimensional, flesh-and-blood individual, rather than a single villain, made their evil deeds more terrible.
They have intrigues at work, and they have love and hate in life. It is these people who share the same emotions as us who have committed heinous crimes.
Director Vadim Perlman took advantage of the German concentration camp environment to tightly circle the center of the story around the two male protagonists.
Klaus, played by Russ Edinger, has some of the characteristics of a giant baby, from rage to delusional jealousy, and transformation is impermanent.
He recited a self-made pseudo-Persian poem in a German way, even forgetting that we should hate the character.
The actor Navel Perez Biscayate, who plays [120 hits per minute], transforms into Gilles under the pseudonym "Reza" in the film, and forms the best complement with Klaus.
Giles's caution and the surge of mixed emotions in his heart were conveyed by his shining eyes.
He may not be bright enough as a "hero", but the choices he makes at key moments make him more human than an iconic symbol.
The main interaction scene between the two is Klaus's office. The dark lighting, gray props, and transparent photography set the best environment for this cat and mouse game.
This is definitely a film that relies on the promotion of two leading actors, although there are many supporting roles, but their role is more to lay the groundwork for the two people around them.
The indescribable relationship that Klaus and Gilles reached over the course of several months is released at the end of the film.
That's probably why the director wants to use a brisk tone, he wants this ending, with unparalleled power, to penetrate our hearts.
Without spoilers, Giles used some very important references when creating the "false Persian language".
These references cannot be brought back to life, but perhaps they can give some relief to the undead who died tragically.
As Gilles said, "Just because you don't know their names doesn't mean they're nameless." ”
Don't forget history, cherish peace