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The Counterfeiters is a gripping account of one prisoner's moral dilemma, superbly portrayed by Karl Markovics. Read critic reviews

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The Counterfeiters Photos

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Movie Info

Salomon Sorowitsch lives a mischievous life of cards, booze, and women in Berlin during the Nazi-era. He suddenly gets arrested and thrown into a concentration camp. Salomon exhibits exceptional skills there and is soon transferred to an upgraded camp. Hand-picked for his unique skill, Salomon is forced to produce fake foreign currency.
  • Rating:
    R (Language|Brief Sexuality/Nudity|Some Strong Violence)
  • Genre:
    drama, history
  • Original Language:
    German
  • Director:
    Stefan Ruzowitzky
  • Producer:
    Josef Aichholzer, Nina Bohlmann, Babette Schröder
  • Writer:
    Stefan Ruzowitzky
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     limited
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $5.5M
  • Runtime:
  • Production Co:
    Babelsberg Film GmbH, Magnolia Films
  • Sound Mix:
    Dolby SRD, Dolby SR

Cast & Crew

Karl Markovics
Salomon Sorowitsch
August Diehl
Adolf Burger
Devid Striesow
Friedrich Herzog
Martin Brambach
Holst
Dolores Chaplin
Red-Haired Woman
August Zirner
Dr. Klinger
Marie Bäumer
Aglaya
Veit Stübner
Atze
Sebastian Urzendowsky
Kolya
Andreas Schmidt
Zilinski
Stefan Ruzowitzky
Director
Stefan Ruzowitzky
Writer
Josef Aichholzer
Producer
Nina Bohlmann
Producer
Babette Schröder
Producer
Britta Nahler
Film Editor
Marius Ruhland
Original Music
Isidor Wimmer
Production Design
Nicole Fischnaller
Costume Designer
Show all Cast & Crew

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Critic Reviews for The Counterfeiters

All Critics (128) | Top Critics (47) | Fresh (119) | Rotten (9)

  • It's details like that-too bizarre not to be true-that give "The Counterfeiters" its bitter wallop. It's an astonishing tale of cunning, compromise and survival.

    February 6, 2018 | Full Review…

    David Ansen

    Newsweek

  • As writer-director Stefan Ruzowitzky shows, powerfully, affectingly, in The Counterfeiters, the privileges experienced by this small team of Jews and criminals came at a price.

    October 18, 2008 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…

    Steven Rea

    Philadelphia Inquirer

  • The winner of this year's Oscar for best foreign-language film puts devils, as well as angels, on the head of the pin.

    June 8, 2008 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

    Paul Byrnes

    Sydney Morning Herald

  • This Oscar-winning film ranks as the most unnerving, disturbing, true-life account yet of endurance under Nazi oppression.

    June 8, 2008 | Rating: 4.5/5 | Full Review…

    Jim Schembri

    The Age (Australia)

  • Ruzowitzky has some fine performers in the three key roles but there is a hint of unsubtlety in some of the other characters and situations. The obvious is rammed home.

    May 15, 2008 | Rating: 3.5/5

    David Stratton

    At the Movies (Australia)

  • This dark, absorbing thriller is not just a moral exercise in the awful choices faced by those determined to survive history's worst genocide. It invites us to imagine ourselves in the shoes of a not-quite-lovable rogue.

    April 24, 2008 | Rating: 5/5

    Roger Moore

    Orlando Sentinel
View All Critic Reviews (128)

Audience Reviews for The Counterfeiters

  • Aug 11, 2012
    Interesting true story. But it's about time filmmakers move on and stop making movies about WWII, no matter how inspiring or uplifting the stories are. This one is nether and it's unfortunately not that engaging because it's told in such conventional ways, I couldn't get into the moral dilemma.
    Hugo S Super Reviewer
  • Sep 10, 2011
    The Counterfeiters is a fictionalized do-or-die tale of survival by a group of talented counterfeiters set World War II Nazi concentration camp. Bold, brave, and provocative new perspective on Operation Bernhard and its role in the Holocaust. Credible cast and performances. A deserving 2007 Academy Award Best Foreign Language Film winner.
    Jan Marc M Super Reviewer
  • Aug 26, 2011
    This film isn't bad, but it's not that good either. Things happen way too fast in the beginning, which is surprising since German films usually have very good pacing. The movie doesn't really get interesting until the end of the second act, and even then it only offers a few exciting scenes. The camera work was also pretty bad, which doesn't help an already "meh" movie. Like I said, it wasn't bad. But it's definitely not a film I'd recommend or care to watch again.
    Alex M Super Reviewer
  • Jul 25, 2011
    It may be hard to some to dare say negative things about a movie with such a delicate storyline, but The Counterfeiters has really nothing extraordinary to it and I now seem to be the only one to say it is a terribly overrated movie. The direction, which gives a TV look to the film (it was a great thing for The Pianist; here, it is only making it look cheap), is unfortunately very unsensitive while strong emotions should be what you'd find in a movie that is supposed to be inspiring. While it failed to inspire anything in me, it did manage to protray the horror of the Holocaust but never came close to other great films of the genre. Its qualities are never enough considerable to overcome its tactless and cold portrayal of a journey that was supposed to feel inspiring.
    Emile T Super Reviewer
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