By Lexi Muir
<[email protected]>

There is a small following for foreign films in America’s society. No matter how intriguing or exciting a film may seem, the language barrier intimidates and draws many people away. Stefan Ruzowitzky’s “The Counterfeiters” proved to be both intriguing and effective despite its German dialogue.

“The Counterfeiters” is comparable to Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List.” Both share stories of life in Nazi concentration camps during the Holocaust, and both portray the best (if it can even be called that) and the worst living conditions for those living in the camps. Both movies tell the story of those whose lives were “saved” because of a profession. In both, those who could work to help support the war effort were offered much better living conditions and in most cases, were spared their lives.

But while “Schindler’s List” set the tone for Holocaust films, “Counterfeiters” went beyond it. Sometimes hard to watch, I found myself turning my head, or at least wishing I could, to the details and images of the Holocaust. Because the film is based on a true story, like most Holocaust films are, it is much more moving and impactful.

“The Counterfeiters” tells the story of Salomon Sorowitsch (Karl Markovics), who is an experienced counterfeiter. He is arrested for his criminal acts of forging money and taken to the Sachsenhausen camp. At the camp he is teamed up with other men to counterfeit British and American money in exchange for better living conditions. The men are given clothing, showers and comfortable beds with sheets and pillows to sleep on, which is significantly better than what most of the other prisoners experience in the camp. What makes the hero in this film unique, however, is that he is a criminal, and his criminal acts end up saving his life, as well as the lives of many others.

Burger, played by August Diehl, is another prisoner involved in the counterfeiting scheme. He was arrested for printing flyers against the Nazi party and works throughout the movie to sabotage the counterfeiting scheme. Burger feels that it is both unfair and unethical to help the Nazi party in any way. His efforts to sabotage the counterfeiting scheme create a conflict between Salomon and him and potentially cost his coworkers their lives.

Both insightful and heart wrenching, “The Counterfeiters” is a movie not to be taken lightly. With gruesome details of the Holocaust that some may view as better to be left unknown, the movie proves to be as close to real life as possible. Those who chose to turn their heads to this dark time period in our world’s history may not want to make a point in seeing this film. The story is so real and the details are so closely portrayed that it almost seems as if you are working alongside Salomon at Sachsenhausen. For those who enjoy learning about history, no matter how dark and horrifying it may be, this movie will give you insight to an aspect of the war that you may not have even known existed.

The dialogue of the film, which is German, allowed for a much more authentic view of the experiences at the camps. Sometimes, reading the dialogue on tiny English subtitles at the bottom of the screen can distract viewers and take away from the true meaning of the film, but in the case of “The Counterfeiters,” it only added to the tone of the film and made it much more genuine.

Not a usual Friday-night movie, “The Counterfeiters” appeals to a different audience with different intentions going into the movie. Acting as a “wake up call” into the truth of the Holocaust, the film will disturb as well as amaze its viewers.

–

“THE COUNERFEITERS”

• Starring: Karl Markovic, August Diehl
• Directed by: Stefan Ruzowitzky
• Release Date: March 22, 2007
• Overall: A-