The story of the Operation Bernhard, the largest counterfeiting operation in history, carried out by Germany during World War II.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Won 1 Oscar. Another 6 wins & 10 nominations.
- See more »
Reviews:
Photos and Videos
Cast
| Karl Markovics | ... |
Solomon 'Sally' Sorowitsch
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| August Diehl | ... |
Adolf Burger
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| Devid Striesow | ... |
Sturmbannführer Friedrich Herzog
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| Martin Brambach | ... |
Hauptscharführer Holst
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| August Zirner | ... |
Dr. Klinger
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Veit Stübner | ... |
Atze
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| Sebastian Urzendowsky | ... |
Kolya Karlov
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| Andreas Schmidt | ... |
Zilinski
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| Tilo Prückner | ... |
Dr. Viktor Hahn
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| Lenn Kudrjawizki | ... |
Loszek
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Marian Kalus | ... |
Plappler
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Norman Stoffregen | ... |
Abramovic
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Bernd Raucamp | ... |
KZ-Insasse Dusche
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Gode Benedix | ... |
1. KZ-Insasse
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Oliver Kanter | ... |
2. KZ-Insasse
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Hans Peter Kortenbruck | ... |
3. KZ Insasse
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Dirk Prinz | ... |
SS-Wache
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| Hille Beseler | ... |
Grete Herzog
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Erik Jan Rippmann | ... |
Bankdirektor
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Tim Breyvogel | ... |
Agent
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| Dolores Chaplin | ... |
Mädchen im Casino
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Roland Fischer-Briand | ... |
Concierge
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Louie Austen | ... |
Pokerspieler
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Michael Racinais | ... |
Direktor
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Michael Blohn | ... |
Croupier
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| Marie Bäumer | ... |
Aglaia
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| Arndt Schwering-Sohnrey | ... |
Hans
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| Jan Pohl | ... |
Sascha
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Lilly Kugler | ... |
Dame
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Matthias Lühn | ... |
Ganove
(as Matthias Lühne)
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Heinz Schubert | ... |
Hehler
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Roswitha Straka | ... |
Tänzerin
(as Rosi Straka)
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Holger Schober | ... |
Unterscharführer
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Steve Thiede | ... |
Kapo
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Peter Strauß | ... |
SS-Offizier
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Bernhard Linke | ... |
Junger Insasse
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| Werner Daehn | ... |
Rosenthal
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Leander Modersohn | ... |
SS-Soldat im Zug
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Andreas Haslinger | ... |
Häftling (uncredited)
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Dieter Hilpmann | ... |
Geisel Stein (uncredited)
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Roland Schröck | ... |
SS-Mann (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Stefan Ruzowitzky | ||
Written by
| Adolf Burger | ... | (book "The Devil's Workshop") |
| Stefan Ruzowitzky | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Josef Aichholzer | ... | producer |
| Nina Bohlmann | ... | producer |
| Christoph Fisser | ... | co-producer |
| Henning Molfenter | ... | co-producer |
| Babette Schröder | ... | producer |
| Caroline von Senden | ... | co-producer |
| Charlie Woebcken | ... | co-producer |
| Sonja B. Zimmer | ... | line producer |
Music by
| Marius Ruhland | ||
Cinematography by
| Benedict Neuenfels | ||
Editing by
| Britta Nahler | ||
Editorial Department
| Wolfgang Fetter | ... | negative scan & dustbusting |
| Alexander Gruber | ... | digital cinema mastering |
| Linda Reif | ... | assistant editor |
| Willi Willinger | ... | colorist |
Casting By
| Heta Mantscheff | ||
| Lisa Olah | ... | (Austrian parts) |
| Markus Schleinzer | ||
Production Design by
| Isidor Wimmer | ||
Set Decoration by
| Gerhard Krummeich | ||
Costume Design by
| Nicole Fischnaller | ||
Makeup Department
| Marie-Luise Adler | ... | makeup artist |
| Sonali Chatterjee | ... | makeup artist |
| Helene Lang | ... | additional makeup artist |
| Waldemar Pokromski | ... | makeup artist |
| Daniela Skala | ... | makeup artist |
| Susann Carolin Wrobel | ... | trainee makeup artist |
Production Management
| Monika Maruschko | ... | production manager |
| Christian Springer | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Anton Maria Aigner | ... | first assistant director |
| Marc de Keller | ... | second assistant director: Austria |
| Timon Modersohn | ... | second assistant director |
Art Department
| Joshua Black | ... | painter |
| Aaron Crookes | ... | art department assistant |
| Michael Düwel | ... | managing director: art department studio babelsberg |
| Christine Egger | ... | assistant production designer |
| Felix Gallo | ... | painter |
| Dierk Grahlow | ... | construction manager |
| Juliane Gstättner | ... | assistant property master: indoor |
| Christian Krüger | ... | property master: outdoor |
| Christine Prinzing | ... | assistant props |
| Johannes Slapa | ... | property master: outdoor |
| Franz Vana | ... | painter |
| Isidor Wimmer | ... | set designer |
| Andreas Herberg | ... | carpenter (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| David Arnold | ... | adr recordist |
| Valerio Brini | ... | re-recording mixer: Italian Language |
| Stephan Fandrych | ... | adr supervisor |
| Tobias Fleig | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Rainer Heesch | ... | sound designer |
| Torsten Heinemann | ... | sound |
| Udo Hilbert | ... | foley editor |
| Tatjana Jakob | ... | supervising sound editor |
| Mark Kenna | ... | consultant: dolby film sound |
| Olaf Mierau | ... | post-production sound supervisor |
| Pierre Peters-Arnolds | ... | dubbing |
| Peter Roigk | ... | foley artist (as Peter Roik) |
| Anja-Corinne Welter | ... | adr editor |
Visual Effects by
| Joerg Bruemmer | ... | digital compositor |
| Manfred Büttner | ... | visual effects |
| Markus Degen | ... | visual effects supervisor |
| Florian Gellinger | ... | digital compositor |
| Claudia Lechen | ... | digital compositor |
| Sven Pannicke | ... | visual effects producer |
| Christian Pundschus | ... | visual effects supervisor |
| Jonathan Weber | ... | digital compositor |
Stunts
| Anton Dyk | ... | stunts: Austria |
| Erwin Reichel | ... | stunt coordinator: Austria |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Alexander Boboschewski | ... | steadicam operator |
| Petro Domenigg | ... | still photographer |
| Andreas Erben | ... | first assistant camera |
| Sascha Görlich | ... | electrician |
| Heiko Halbreiter | ... | electrician |
| Xiaosu Han | ... | additional electrician |
| David Marschalsky | ... | first assistant camera |
| Matthias Mitter | ... | second assistant camera |
| Jürgen Olczyk | ... | still photographer |
| Marcus Pohlus | ... | steadicam operator |
| Patrick Posch | ... | electrician |
| Axel Renner | ... | rigging gaffer |
| Rainer Stonus | ... | gaffer |
| Andreas Thalhammer | ... | additional electrician |
| Michael Tschager | ... | best boy |
| Thomas Welz | ... | electrician |
| Dietmar Zechner | ... | video operator |
| Ana Zirner | ... | video operator |
Casting Department
| Marcel Dykiert | ... | extras casting assistant |
| Iris Müller | ... | extras casting |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Pieter Bax | ... | costume assistant |
| Sabine Ebner | ... | trainee costume designer |
| Reinhard Kirnich | ... | wardrobe |
| Barbara Koeppl | ... | wardrobe: extras |
| Carolin Kohl | ... | trainee costume designer |
| Sabine Kubat | ... | additional wardrobe |
| Inga Kusche | ... | additional wardrobe |
| Tongi Liu | ... | additional wardrobe |
| Patricia Schömitz | ... | costume assistant |
| Inka Sherman | ... | costumer |
| Nadine Waeldchen | ... | wardrobe |
Location Management
| Pierre Barnaud | ... | location manager: France |
Music Department
| Ahmed Al-Salamouny | ... | musician: solo guitar |
| Ladislav Farkas | ... | musician: solo piano |
| Peter Fuchs | ... | music engineer |
| Winfried Kraus | ... | musician: solo piano |
| Martin Roller | ... | assistant scoring engineer |
| Marius Ruhland | ... | music producer / orchestrator |
| Symfonický orchester Slovenského rozhlasu | ... | orchestra |
| Allan Wilson | ... | conductor |
Script and Continuity Department
| Iris Steiner | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Tobias Gottschlich | ... | production driver |
| Benjamin Weidner | ... | production driver |
Additional Crew
| Chris Besseling | ... | uk marketing executive: metrodome |
| Jorge Bosicovich | ... | choreographer |
| Eva Cifrain | ... | production coordinator |
| Umut Dag | ... | production assistant |
| Katja Hoerstmann | ... | co-production coordinator |
| Margaret Metz | ... | production coordinator |
| Mirjam Weber | ... | assistant to co-producer |
Thanks
| Hans Janke | ... | additional thanks |
| Olaf Mierau | ... | additional thanks |
| Michaela Niemeyer | ... | additional thanks |
| Isaak Plappler | ... | additional thanks |
Production Companies
- Magnolia Filmproduktion
- Aichholzer Filmproduktion
- Beta Cinema
- Filmförderung Hamburg (funding)
- Studio Babelsberg
- Studio Babelsberg
- Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF)
Distributors
- Universum Film (UFA) (2007) (Germany) (theatrical)
- Filmladen (2007) (Austria) (theatrical)
- ABC Distribution (2007) (Belgium) (theatrical)
- Cinemien (2007) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Continental Film (2007) (Slovakia) (theatrical)
- Hollywood Classic Entertainment (2007) (Czechia) (theatrical)
- Monolith Plus (2007) (Poland) (theatrical)
- Nordisk Film (2007) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Sony Pictures Releasing (2007) (Canada) (theatrical) (subtitled)
- Madman Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (subtitled)
- Metrodome Distribution (2007) (United Kingdom) (subtitled)
- Paradise Group (2007) (Russia)
- Universum Film (UFA) (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
- Alfa Films (2008) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Best Hollywood (2008) (Hungary) (theatrical)
- Chantier Films (2008) (Turkey) (theatrical)
- Fivia (2008) (Slovenia) (theatrical)
- Lady Film (2008) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Prisvídeo (2008) (Portugal) (theatrical) (as Prisvídeo - Edições Videográficas)
- Wanda Visión S.A. (2008) (Spain) (theatrical)
- Nordisk Film Biografdistribution (2008) (Denmark) (theatrical)
- Nordisk Film (2008) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Rézo Films (2008) (France) (theatrical)
- Sony Pictures Classics (2008) (United States) (theatrical) (subtitled)
- Audio Visual Entertainment (2008) (Greece)
- Homescreen (2008) (Belgium) (DVD)
- Homescreen (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- Mediasoft Films (2008) (South Korea)
- Nordisk Film (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (Canada) (DVD) (subtitled)
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (United States) (DVD)
- Londra Films P&D (2009) (Bolivia) (theatrical)
- Turbo Films (2009) (China) (theatrical)
- Europa Filmes (2009) (Brazil)
- Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
- Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF) (2009) (Germany) (tv)
- Panorama Distributions (2010) (Hong Kong) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Gisela Films (camera equipment provided by)
- LISTO MediaServices Cine + TV Postproduction (post-production)
- LISTO MediaServices Cine + TV Postproduction (post-production) (laboratory) (digital intermediate) (film recording)
- Sonnenstudio (post-production sound services)
- Theaterkunst (costume)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
The Counterfeiters is the true story of the largest counterfeiting operation in history, set up by Germany 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. Handpicked for his unique skill, Salomon and a group of professionals are forced to produce fake foreign currency under the program Operation Bernhard. 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 enemies, Adolf refuses to use his skills for German 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. Written by Sony Pictures Classics |
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| Taglines | It takes a clever man to make money, it takes a genius to stay alive See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | EUR4,200,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | First Austrian film to win an Academy Award in the Best Foreign Language Film Category. See more » |
| Goofs | While Sally and Kolya are being transported on a moving train, a German guard is bringing them food. In the camp hierarchy, German guards seldom interacted with prisoners, instead having other prisoners undertake menial tasks of serving food. Prisoners were seldom fed during transport as these cattle-wagons were not inter-connected and most likely locked from outside. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The 80th Annual Academy Awards (2008). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Down By The Riverside See more » |
| Quotes |
Salomon 'Sally' Sorowitsch:
Ich bin ich. Die anderen sind die anderen. [I'm myself. Everyone else is everyone else] See more » |