In Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds, Hans Landa first speaks French in the opening scene.
The scene takes place at a French dairy farm in 1941. Landa, an SS colonel played by Christoph Waltz, arrives to investigate whether the farmer is hiding Jewish fugitives. He begins the conversation in French, creating a superficially polite atmosphere before switching languages and increasing the pressure.
The sequence establishes Landa as a multilingual investigator whose courtesy masks menace. Waltz speaks German, Italian, French, and English during the film, and his ability to move between languages is central to several later scenes.
Some viewers remember German as the opening language because German soldiers and dialogue soon become prominent. However, Landa’s initial conversation with Perrier LaPadite is conducted in French. The film’s emphasis on language also helps determine whether characters can maintain disguises.