Die Fälscher (2007)

This film's English title was 'The Counterfeiters'.

Die Fälscher was awarded 'Best Foreign Language Film' at the 2007 Academy Awards.

Plot

Image by K嘛 via Flickr

The film centres around a German Jew, Salomon 'Sally' Sorowitsch and his experiences at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp as part of Operation Bernhard, the Nazis' attempts to destroy the economies of the US and UK by printing millions of dollars of counterfeit money. As the war goes on, the counterfeiters decide to sabotage the Nazis' plans while still trying to protect their own lives.

Characters

The main characters are mostly German Jews being held prisoner in the camp, but reoccuring Nazi characters also pop up, such as Sturmbannführer Herzog. Although all of the characters seem to be acting in their own interests, as the film goes on the alliances become more apparent and the moralities begin to become more black and white.

The characters are pretty interesting. Since they're all pretty selfish, everyone has their own rather unique personality. 'Sally' himself is quite a charming character and you do feel sorry for him, but at the same time he is a criminal and does sort of deserve what he's getting.

Although the Nazi characters are not portrayed as particularly likeable, I didn't hate them. But I'm probably biased.

Visuals and Cinematography

The film uses the camera excellently. There's definitely a claustrophobic feel to some of the shots and it really makes you wonder how they managed to film it. There's also a great use of colour and saturation. The camp scenes have this dull, grey look to them, whereas the casinos and other places in the opening shots are bright and colourful.

Realism

I am a history nut and I can say this film was pretty realistic. As the film goes on, history starts creeping in and events happening all around the world come to affect our protagonists.

Soundtrack

The music in Die Fälscher is quite good and certainly fits the emotions of whatever is going on in any given scene.

Overall

A fantastic film and one of my all-time favourite foreign films. I recommend it to fans of drama and war films.

9/10