rating:
(out of
4 stars)Austria, Germany; 2007
Directed by Stefan Ruzowitzky; produced by Josef Aichholzer, Nina Bohlmann, Babette Schròder; written by Stefan Ruzowitzky
Starring Karl Markovics, August Diehl, Devid Striesow, Martin Brambach, August Zirner, Veit Stübner
'Die Fälscher' is another contribution to the film-knowledge about the Holocaust. Based on a book of someone who was really there, the film tells the story of Jewish counterfeiters, especially of pounds and dollars, working in Nazi camp Sachsenhausen. In return they receive better treatment - food, beds, music, a ping pong table - while sounds through the wooden walls keep remembering them of the other parts of the camp, where the real horrors are happening.
This Austrian film focuses on master counterfeiter Salomon Sorrowitsch (Karl Markovics), a Russian Jew. His story starts in 1936 when he is arrested by Herzog (Devid Striesow). He tries to make the best of his life, whoch basically means surviving, by using his craft. First just a painter, but during the war he is transferred to camp Sachsenhausen where Herzog now runs things. Sorrowitsch gets his own team to produce pound and later dollar notes for the Nazis. This saves his own life, but on the same time finances a war that kills millions of his people.
This inner conflict is made clear by Adolf Burger (August Diehl), the character who wrote the book. He wants to sabotage the machines so the Germans will not get their dollar notes. Others do not agree since they know this is the way to save their skin. For Sorrowitsch something else is important: as a counterfeiter it is quite a challenge to duplicate a dollar bill. Herzog feels the pressure of time and sets deadlines. Pure evil appears in the characters of Hauptscharführer Holst (Martin Brambach), who provides most of the scenes showing the Holocaust horrors.
'Die Fälscher' benefits from the original language being German, something missing in films such as 'Schindler's List'. The realistic element is always present, but it never forces gruesome moments in our face just to make us aware. The film is entirely told from the point of view of Sorrowitsch, and the viewer learns to understand this character. We may not always agree with his actions, we know he is probably doing the smartest thing. Sometimes you have to think of yourself before you can help others. 'The Grey Zone' shows us this in an effective way as well.
The film tells a gripping true story. By now we have seen the destruction of the Nazis in many films, most of them - 'Schindler's List', 'The Pianist', 'The Grey Zone' - impressive on their own. On a larger scale all these films together are important as a whole. They keep us remembering. 'Die Fälscher' is doing this as well. On the same time it tells a lesser known story from WW-II, about the greatest counterfeiting operation in human history, which keeps it interesting from start to finish.