Based on true events, “The Counterfeiters” follows Salomon Sorowitsch, an infamous Jewish counterfeiter who ends up in a Nazi concentration camp where is coerced into creating fake money and other items for the Nazis.

“The Counterfeiters,” which won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film, is a supremely well made German film that manages to take a different perspective on WW2. In the film, we see how Salomon and several other people try to survive by essentially funding the war effort for the Nazis by making counterfeit items. We also see how the prisoners struggle with their work as they feel that they have become traitors, even if they are doing this out of desperation (and by force). It’s a very deep, emotional, character driven piece that makes viewers think about the hellish lengths one would go in order to survive.

As for the cast, they certainly bring the material to life. Karl Markovics gives a memorable performance as the counterfeiter Salomon and August Diehl is equally memorable as the conflicted Adolf Burger.

Aside from the acting, two of the most impressive aspects of the film were the stunning cinematography and the production design. The production team did a superb job in recreating the time period. Everything looked genuine.

My only complaint with the film is that the editing (and parts of the script) felt rushed. I was especially displeased with the beginning as the set-up was sort of glossed over. The writer and director really didn’t need to shorten any scenes as the film is only 95 minutes. If anything, the two could have elaborated on events or let certain scenes play out.