The Counterfeiters

Movie · Drama · History

The true story of the largest counterfeiting operation in history, set up by the Nazis in 1936. Salomon "Sally" Sorowitsch is the king of counterfeiters. He lives a mischievous life of cards, booze, and women in Berlin during the Nazi-era. Suddenly his luck runs dry when arrested by Superintendent Friedrich Herzog. Immediately thrown into the Mauthausen concentration camp, Salomon exhibits exceptional skills there and is soon transferred to the upgraded camp of Sachsenhausen. Upon his arrival, he once again comes face to face with Herzog, who is there on a secret mission. Hand-picked for his unique skill, Salomon and a group of professionals are forced to produce fake foreign currency under the program Operation Berhard. The team, which also includes detainee Adolf Burger, is given luxury barracks for their assistance. But while Salomon attempts to weaken the economy of Germany's allied opponents, Adolf refuses to use his skills for Nazi profit and would like to do something to stop Operation Bernhard's aid to the war effort. Faced with a moral dilemma, Salomon must decide whether his actions, which could prolong the war and risk the lives of fellow prisoners, are ultimately the right ones.

2008 · 1h 39m
  • 93%
  • 16+
Starring Karl Markovics, August Diehl, Devid Striesow
Director Stefan Ruzowitzky

Trailers

  • The Counterfeiters
    The Counterfeiters
    Drama

Related

  • Elser
  • Downfall
  • The Baader Meinhof Complex
  • The Lives of Others
  • The Captain
  • The Auschwitz Report
  • Great Freedom
  • Schindler's List
  • Labyrinth of Lies

Cast & Crew

  • Karl Markovics
    Salomon 'Sally' Sorowitsch
  • August Diehl
    Adolf Burger
  • Devid Striesow
    Sturmbannfuhrer Friedrich Herzog
  • Martin Brambach
    Hauptscharfuhrer Holst
  • Dolores Chaplin
    Red-Haired Woman
  • August Zirner
    Dr. Klinger
  • Marie Bäumer
    Aglaya
  • Veit Stübner
    Atze
  • Sebastian Urzendowsky
    Kolya
  • Andreas Schmidt
    Zilinski
  • Tilo Prückner
    Dr. Viktor Hahn

About

The Counterfeiters

Drama

The true story of the largest counterfeiting operation in history, set up by the Nazis in 1936. Salomon "Sally" Sorowitsch is the king of counterfeiters. He lives a mischievous life of cards, booze, and women in Berlin during the Nazi-era. Suddenly his luck runs dry when arrested by Superintendent Friedrich Herzog. Immediately thrown into the Mauthausen concentration camp, Salomon exhibits exceptional skills there and is soon transferred to the upgraded camp of Sachsenhausen. Upon his arrival, he once again comes face to face with Herzog, who is there on a secret mission. Hand-picked for his unique skill, Salomon and a group of professionals are forced to produce fake foreign currency under the program Operation Berhard. The team, which also includes detainee Adolf Burger, is given luxury barracks for their assistance. But while Salomon attempts to weaken the economy of Germany's allied opponents, Adolf refuses to use his skills for Nazi profit and would like to do something to stop Operation Bernhard's aid to the war effort. Faced with a moral dilemma, Salomon must decide whether his actions, which could prolong the war and risk the lives of fellow prisoners, are ultimately the right ones.

16+

COMMON SENSE

Bleak, mature film about WWII concentration camp.

93%

TOMATOMETER
Average 7.8
Reviews 126
Fresh 117
Rotten 9

Information

Studio
Sony Pictures
Released
2008
Run Time
1 hr 39 min
Rated
R for some strong violence, brief sexuality/nudity and language.
Regions of Origin
United States, Germany, Austria
© 2006 Aichholzer Film

Languages

Original Audio
German, German (Germany), German (Austria), Russian, English, Hebrew
Audio

German (Germany) (AAC, ⁨Dolby 5.1⁩)

Subtitles

English (CC), English (United States) (Always On)

Accessibility

Closed captions (CC) refer to subtitles in the available language with the addition of relevant non-dialogue information.
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Select a country or region

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  • Armenia
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