Die Fälscher (The Counterfeiters) (2007)

"Earning money as an artist?

Earning money with printing money is quicker. It's a shortcut."

1945. Monte Carlo. The WW2 is just over. A silent, mysterious man arrives. Loaded with money. A lot of money.. The camera / our view blocked for a second and suddenly we are in 1939. Berlin. Because the story, I mean The Story starts then and there...

A story which tells about the Jews, concentration camps, cruelty and humanity, Nazis (cruel and human, too, of c.) throught all the already seen stereotypes. The Austrian Stefan Ruzowitzky's – Oscar winner(!) – film doesn't show anything which wasn't shown before. His Counterfeiters doesn't do more but counterfeits the cinematically well known topic.

Terrible soundtrack, very bad acting, mediocre cinematography, almost original story. It's getting better, isn't it?:) What's original in this thousand times played situation? Maybe the Devil's circle in it. The agreement between the counterfeiter Jews and the Nazis in the kz lagers. As long as they support the Nazis with their counterfeited pounds and dollars, the war is sponsored and goes on against... the Jews. As long they won't make the banknotes, the war will be over, but then they won't be useful for the Nazis anymore. I said 'deal' – I wanted to watch it. As I said the story gives a good frame, but what's inside has nothing to do with originality or filmmaking in 2007.

This year the Oscars went quite good hands. The Coen brothers and PTA for his epic masterpiece received what they deserved. And then coming this film as the best foreign movie. It must be a really bad joke from America to claim that The Counterfeiters is the best non-American film. It's degrading to compare this against their truly good ones this year. Everybody knows (ok, except the Academy) that the best foreign (non-American) film from 2007 is Mungiu's embarrassingly perfect 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days (wasn't nominated at all). But I suppose it was written several times, several places.


"I'm not giving the Nazis the pleasure, of feeling ashamed, to be alive."

I'm not giving Hollywood the pleasure, of feeling stupid, to be proud on this.

5/10