The Counterfeiters (B+ or 3/4 stars)
'The Counterfeiters', an Austrian film directed by Stefan Ruzowitzky, tells a true tale of survival. A dissimilar group of imprisoned artists, bankers, & con men are assembled in a secret concentration camp to forge millions of identity papers and $$ for 'Operation Bernhard' (supporting the German War effort). The long-term plan for Operation Bernhard was to supplement the Nazis with tons of phony $$; thus crippling the economies of their enemies, England & America. How could the counterfeiters prevent this from happening, even as they slave away at making the $$? This won Best Foreign Film at the 2008 Oscars (in 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days' absence). But it is still a very worthy movie. One that may have won, even if the other film had been admitted.
The film opens in Monte Carlo, 1946 (a year or 2 after the main events in the plot). After this 5 minute prologue, the clock is turned back. In the 1930's, Salomon Sorowitsch (Karl Markovics), a Russian Jew, was one of the world's best counterfeiters. Working out of Berlin, 'Sally' receives word that the police are hot on his trail. Before long, he IS captured by superintendent Friedrich Herzog (Devid Striesow) & eventually shipped to his labor camp as part of a skilled counterfeiting crew. Because Sally & his 'co-workers' excel at creating perfected copies of British & American money, the higher-ups provide them with superior beds, meals, & working conditions than the other captives. This doesn't lessen the blow for several of the prisoners, including Adolf Burger (August Diehl). To him, helping the Nazis not only betrays the Jews, but it also only delays the inevitable (their deaths).
So Sally is faced with a huge moral dilemma. Caught in the middle of 2 opposing forces, should he aid the Nazis (even though he hates them), or join in sabotaging them with Burger (with whom the film's story is actually based on)? Even if he sabotages the enemy, their future could still be bleak. Should he/they risk it all to put an end to the Nazi's reign? Or is saving yourself more important?
Karl Markovics is wonderful as Sally. He's a man who was always out for himself (gambling, boozing, one-night stands, etc.), but his conscience intervenes when counterfeiting for the Nazis. The ambiguity of what's going on inside his mind is fascinating to watch. Sally is no saint. But he's always trying to figure out the right thing to do (hopefully, before it's too late). Markovics plays this role without a hint of artifice. It's as if we're watching a documentary unfold. Also riveting is Adolf Diehl, the fellow Jew who's at odds with Sally over 'how' to counterfeit certain bills.
The framework of this film is quite ordinary. I mean, HOW many holocaust films have been made? But this one has its differences. i.e., while there's clear evidence of horror & despair, this film focuses on 'other' things that occurred behind the camp walls. There's more concentration camp 'drama', if you will. We get to know several prisoners, and interesting subplots flourish around them. 'The Counterfeiters' is tough, intelligent, & unsettling. Some moments are a bit languorous. But at 94 min., it knows just when to stop. I really got a lot out of this movie; it's one to be check out, for sure.
The film opens in Monte Carlo, 1946 (a year or 2 after the main events in the plot). After this 5 minute prologue, the clock is turned back. In the 1930's, Salomon Sorowitsch (Karl Markovics), a Russian Jew, was one of the world's best counterfeiters. Working out of Berlin, 'Sally' receives word that the police are hot on his trail. Before long, he IS captured by superintendent Friedrich Herzog (Devid Striesow) & eventually shipped to his labor camp as part of a skilled counterfeiting crew. Because Sally & his 'co-workers' excel at creating perfected copies of British & American money, the higher-ups provide them with superior beds, meals, & working conditions than the other captives. This doesn't lessen the blow for several of the prisoners, including Adolf Burger (August Diehl). To him, helping the Nazis not only betrays the Jews, but it also only delays the inevitable (their deaths).
So Sally is faced with a huge moral dilemma. Caught in the middle of 2 opposing forces, should he aid the Nazis (even though he hates them), or join in sabotaging them with Burger (with whom the film's story is actually based on)? Even if he sabotages the enemy, their future could still be bleak. Should he/they risk it all to put an end to the Nazi's reign? Or is saving yourself more important?
Karl Markovics is wonderful as Sally. He's a man who was always out for himself (gambling, boozing, one-night stands, etc.), but his conscience intervenes when counterfeiting for the Nazis. The ambiguity of what's going on inside his mind is fascinating to watch. Sally is no saint. But he's always trying to figure out the right thing to do (hopefully, before it's too late). Markovics plays this role without a hint of artifice. It's as if we're watching a documentary unfold. Also riveting is Adolf Diehl, the fellow Jew who's at odds with Sally over 'how' to counterfeit certain bills.
The framework of this film is quite ordinary. I mean, HOW many holocaust films have been made? But this one has its differences. i.e., while there's clear evidence of horror & despair, this film focuses on 'other' things that occurred behind the camp walls. There's more concentration camp 'drama', if you will. We get to know several prisoners, and interesting subplots flourish around them. 'The Counterfeiters' is tough, intelligent, & unsettling. Some moments are a bit languorous. But at 94 min., it knows just when to stop. I really got a lot out of this movie; it's one to be check out, for sure.