The Counterfeiters

Tom's Recommended Film of the Week

The Counterfeiters

The Counterfeitersis an outstanding true story film covering the Jewish tradesman concentration camppoint of view of the Nazi Germanattempt to counterfeit the English poundand American Dollar during World War II. It's a topic known to most paper money collectors and numismatists, but even those who are familiar with the counterfeit British 5 pound noteswill most likely find The Counterfeitersboth compeling and informative.

This Stefan Ruzowitskydirected film tells the storyfrom the point of view of the mastermind counterfeiter Sally Sorowitsch, played exquisitely by Karl Markovics, who chose to lend his talents to the Nazi schemein order to survive. Supporting characters emphazie the ironies of this complex story, leaving the viewer with much to think about after viewing this film. I particularly enjoyed the interplay between those with ideals and those with personal survival instincts. The combination of these elements in Sorowitsch is a central theme and gives this confined tale all the twists and turns a modern veiwer demands.

At the center of The Counterfeitersis a three way tug of war of the wills between Sorowitsch, his colotype man Adolph Burger, played by August Diehland the German project commander Sturmbannführer Friedrich Herzog, played by Devid Striesow. Burger, who was a special consultant to the film, helping to give The Counterfeitersthe passion and detail that make it such an excellent piece. The extras on the DVD provide both background infornation and an interview with Burger.