Principal photography is being lined up for Mama, bitte lern Deutsch (lit. “Mum, Please Learn German”), the feature-length adaptation of Tahsim Durgun’s debut bestselling memoir, to be directed by Hüseyin Tabak. The project marks the big-screen interpretation of one of Germany’s most talked-about recent literary successes, following its strong resonance with readers nationwide.

The story recounts the author’s upbringing in a Kurdish-German family. With warmth, wit and emotional precision, it portrays a childhood shaped by translation duties, bureaucratic obstacles and questions of belonging. Alongside his siblings, the young protagonist assumes responsibility early on, deciphering official letters and supermarket leaflets for his mother, while navigating the tensions and contradictions of a country still grappling with its immigration history. Through the intimate lens of one family, the film aims to reflect a shared experience familiar to many in contemporary Germany, balancing political undercurrents with a deeply personal perspective.

Tabak directs from a screenplay by Jan Berger, written in collaboration with Durgun. The filmmaker is known for works such as Oscars Kleid [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Hüseyin Tabak e Alina Serban
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Durgun’s memoir topped the Der Spiegel bestseller list for 12 weeks and has remained in the top ten for over a year. Based in Oldenburg, he studied German and History, and is now a comedian and bestselling author. He first gained attention on social media, where he comments on societal debates with humour and a sharp eye – correcting the grammar of right-wing hate comments or asking his mother whether she supports the AfD, for example. The author said: “I feel more than honoured that my first book is being adapted by Constantin Film. With Nurhan Şekerci-Porst, Hüseyin Tabak and Jan Berger on board, the exact right people are attached to this project. I never could have dreamed that this story would now find its way into German cinemas.”

The film is being produced by Nurhan Şekerci-Porst for Constantin Film, whose recent credits include projects foregrounding questions of identity and social cohesion, such as Rheingold [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Fatih Akin
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scheda film] by Fatih Akin. She added: “We live in a time when questions of belonging, identity, cohesion and home concern many people. For me, Mama, bitte lern Deutsch exemplifies stories that reflect our present and encourage society to engage in conversation with each other. That is exactly why this film belongs in cinemas.”

Shooting is scheduled to take place later this year in Germany, with further production details expected to be unveiled in the coming months. Casting details are yet to be announced. Constantin Film will handle distribution in Germany.