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The Counterfeiters

Oscar nominated drama finds a new angle on the Holocaust

By Geoff Berkshire

Metromix
February 21, 2008

Critic's Rating:

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When expert counterfeiter Salomon Sorowitsch (Karl Markovics) is forced into a concentration camp during WWII he strikes a devil’s bargain with Nazi commanding officer Herzog (Devid Striesow): Sorowitsch and other skilled prisoners will create counterfeit money for Hitler’s army in exchange for more humane living conditions. The film is based on a true story.

Big question: Can an Oscar nomination in the best foreign language film category boost this Austrian film’s profile?

Catch it: Far from the dry, academic docudrama its subject matter might have inspired, “The Counterfeiters” is an engaging, ethically provocative dramatic thriller with a quietly commanding lead performance from Markovics. Writer-director Stefan Ruzowitzky’s film considers the full range of emotions—confusion, anger, relief, guilt—experienced by those who managed to not just survive, but comparatively thrive during the worst of times.

Skip it: If you want to avoid any movie that’s as complicated as real life.

Bottom line: Even if you think you’ve seen enough cinematic tales of the Holocaust “The Counterfeiters” demonstrates there are still more interesting stories to be told. The film’s fresh perspective and challenging moral questions make for a historical drama with vital relevance to contemporary audiences.

Bonus: Ruzowitzky previously directed an even more unconventional WWII story: the Matt LeBlanc/Eddie Izzard cross-dressing spies comedy “All the Queen’s Men.”