The Counterfeiters

First of all, the translation is awful! The English translation is often not even close to the original German. The acting is bad except for August Diehl, but the main character, Solomon Sorowitsch played by Karl Markovics, seems to have only one facial expression whatever the situation. The real, historic story about the counterfeiters is interesting, but the film doesn't do it justice. I only watched it to the bitter end, because I tried to understand why this movie got so much praise in the German press. I still don't understand. There are much better Holocaust movies. This is more like an action film that happens to play between 1933 and 1945. It has no subtlety, the characters are not developed, it feels like a manga version.

Instead of making another depressing Holocaust film, writer/director Stefan Rozuwitzky chose to create an ensemble drama to examine the strength of conscience vs staying alive. Some names were changed, and a few facts, too, but the resulting film is devastating in its narrative. The central character, "Sally" Sorowitch (the amazing Karl Markovics) is the main character, thrown into various concentration camps, until he arrives at Sachsenhausen, where he's treated better than elsewhere. He's a master counterfeiter who is expected to help the Nazi's get money to both finance their further war effort, and destroy the economies of Britain & the US. There isn't much more to say without blabbing away plot stuff, but the screenplay is based on fellow inmate/forger Adolf Burger's memoir (played with profound sincerity by August Diehl). Burger, actually, was ready to go along with the Nazi demands, but here he's played as the conscience of the whole film. The central character of "Sally" was actually based on a man named Smolianoff (but he didn't emerge famous and ended up forging passports for Jews who wanted to go to Palestine). David Striesow should be commended for his smarmy performance as Commandant Herzog. It's hard to say more here, but I recommend this film highly, for an inside perspective. The DVD extras are super-plentiful, and director Rozuwitsky explains that many things needed to be changed for legal reasons; he also wanted to present a German film about conscience (regarding the Holocaust). The surprise Oscar winner for Foreign Language film should be seen as another lesson about what greed, power and ambivalence can to to the world at large.

This drama is so extraordinary especially knowing it covers a real event in an unreal time. The acting is so complete I felt I was viewing reality in intimate detail. I highly recommend this Blu-ray disc for its historical depiction and its raw entertainment value.

PQ/AQ 4/5.I am 1/2 German and unfortunately heard about the time period in which my mom grew up in, when she was a little girl. Many German people risked their lives helping Jewish people who were unjustly persecuted. This film showed yet another side of this inhuman time period, and it was an engaging portrayal of the economic plot happening behind the scenes of the bombs and atrocities. With humor and a contant edge of fear, this film tells an incredible story of what happens when a group of people is asked to compromise all ethics to survive. The "artifacts" extras are very interesting and the film is not to be missed for its relevance. Thoroughly enjoyed-highly recommended.

There are hundreds of movies about the Holocaust and most of them detail the unbelievable horrors of totalitarianism and racism. What makes this film stand apart is that it gives us a story of morally complex individuals who don't have the luxury of making easy choices between good and evil.

Imagine, if you will, being given a chance at life, even a tolerably good life, in the bowels of Hell. But in order to live, you have to betray all those fighting to end that evil, brutal world. A few select men in the Sachsenhausen camp are given that choice...and (according to the film) they choose to live, even if some will become morally bankrupt in doing so. The most interesting personality of course, is the main protoganist - the best counterfeiter in Germany - who is a Jew (yes) but also a criminal type. According to his code of honor, which he translates into the concentration camp, a person may fake millions of bank notes to help the German regime continue to oppress, but one cannot squeal or compromise another prisoner - whatever the reason. The counterfeiter even secretly relishes the idea of accomplishing the impossible...heading the most daring money forgery operation in human history. Opposing him is a Russian idealist who believes that he must, absolutely must, sabotage the operation in order to bring the Nazi regime down. I was absolutely thrilled by Karl Marcovich's performance - subtle, nuanced, ruthless, and at times heart-breakingly compassionate. To those wary of seeing another Holocaust film, I say, this one's different...go see it.