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The Counterfeiters (2007) DVD Review
The Counterfeiters (2007) DVD Credits:
The Counterfeiters (2007) Directed by:
Stefan Ruzowitzky
The Counterfeiters (2007) Written by:
Stefan Ruzowitzky
The Counterfeiters (2007) Cast:
Karl Markovics, August Diehl, Devid Striesow, Martin Brambach, Dolores Chaplin, August Zirner, Marie Bäumer, Veit Stübner, Sebastian Urzendowsky, Andreas Schmidt
The Counterfeiters (2007) Released by:
Not available at this time
Region:
1
The Counterfeiters (2007) DVD Release Date:
4th August 2008
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The Counterfeiters (2007) Synopsis:

The Counterfeiters is the true story of the largest counterfeiting operation in history, set up by the Nazis in 1936.

The Counterfeiters (2007) DVD Review:

Winner of 2007 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, The Counterfeiters is a Holocaust true story, which many could easily claim as the basis for the final decision concerning the award. Although these people would be right in the claim that the Academy seems prone to award films dealing with World War II, especially the ones about the concentration camps, this does not mean that The counterfeiters is not deserving. Quite the opposite is true in this exciting and sobering tale from the perspective of an unlikely hero.

Salomon Sorowitsch (Karl Markovics) is a Jewish counterfeiter living in Berlin during Nazi control, so unafraid of being caught that he has begun attempting a counterfeit of the dollar in between creating passports. When he is arrested Salomon is sent to a Nazi concentration camp instead of prison, forced to work under the threat of death and starvation. Seeing that his only asset is his gift with a pencil and paper Salomon steals a piece of paper one night and draws a picture with his blistered hands. The photo is of the Nazi soldiers and it is enough to impress officers into placing him in charge of painting portraits for the higher ranking officers with their family and murals on prison walls. This provides Salomon better food with easier conditions, but he seems always prepared and waiting for the next opportunity, which comes in the form of the German army’s financial problems.

After five years of painting for meager meals Salomon is moved to a new camp, this time specifically requested. The camp has softer beds and much more enjoyable conditions, despite the fact that it is still a concentration camp. The reason for the better conditions is because of the importance of the Jewish men brought in. Each of them was once employed in a field that will be of service to the German army, which is seeking to counterfeit bank notes as a way of funding the war effort. The beds are softer because these men are asked to help fund the effort that is killing their people. This fact begins to sink in, and only one man is willing to sabotage the operation in order to prevent the German army the support they need, and this man isn’t Salomon. Watching the bravery from the eyes of a man trying to survive makes it all seem somewhat insane, and the dilemma is all the more believable this way.

The Blu-ray contains a commentary track with director Stefan Ruzowitzky, a making-of featurette, deleted scenes, and interviews. There is a featurette about Adolf Burger, the man responsible for delaying the Germans, and there is even rehearsal footage. Few foreign films have as much extensive perks as The Counterfeiters does when released for home release, and deservedly so.

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The Counterfeiters (2007) DVD review written by: Ryan Izay

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