(2007; German) Each man forged his own feelings, counterfeited his conscience, in order to survive. Based on the memoirs of Adolf Burger (90 years old at the time of the movie's making), director Stefan Ruzowitzky recreated two blocks of the Sachsenhausen concentration camp where Operation Bernhardt, intended to "flood and destroy the British economy," took place during the last two years of World War II.

At the film's outset and conclusion, after the war, Salomon Sorowitsch (Karl Markovics) gambles with his American dollars in Monte Carlo. Ten years earlier in Berlin, the master forger of documents and currency, says to a fellow Jew that the reason Jews are persecuted is because they refuse to adapt; he has learned to adapt: "Earning money by making money."

Apprehended by the CID, Sally's sent to a work camp, where his artistic talents are rewarded with extra rations, as he produces portraits of SS officers and paints murals. Transferred five years later to Sachsenhausen, once again he's fortunate in that the camp's commandant, Herr Strumbannfüher Herzog (Devid Streisow), recognizes him as the world's best counterfeiter, since Herzog had arrested Salomon.

Along with other Jewish artists, printers, photographers, copper engravers, and retouchers, Sally (number 75517) joins a team of prisoners, given the latest typographical machines, assigned to counterfeit British pound notes. Brought from other concentration camps, such as Auschwitz and Sobibor, they have better living conditions than ordinary prisoners; the shoe testers tramp about outside their barracks with sandbags tied to their backs. "One adapts or dies," acknowledges Sally.

A comic figure, formerly a banker, complains to the commandant of having to work among criminals. But one man, Adolf Burger (August Diehl), a printer with expertise at collotype, brought over from Auschwitz (where his wife remains), possesses an authentic conscience; failing to convince Sally ("not cut out to play the martyr") to organize a revolt, Burger sabotages their efforts to produce a foolproof dollar as they had the British pound.

For their success at creating £132 million in £5, £10, and £20 notes - which, through an agent in Switzerland, the Bank of England guaranteed genuineness - Commandant Herzog rewards the Jewish counterfeiters with a pingpong table and minor privileges. Burger, however, who is adamant that printers only print the truth, bitterly confronts Sally, accusing him of a selfish desire, proving he can accomplish the complicated challenge of a counterfeit dollar: "We're financing the Nazi war effort."

Herr Hauptscharfüher Holst (Martin Brambach), while demeaning Salomon, condemns the Jews for being willing to do anything to "save their filthy lives." While appearing to be sympathetic at times, even bringing Sally over to his home for a cordial, Commandant Herzog reminds his prize prisoner, with whom he has on occasions negotiated bargains (such as medicine for Kolya, who has TB): "Don't think you're irreplaceable."

Five prisoners, including Burger and Zilinski, are threatened with death if Salomon fails to produce the desired masterpiece of monetary manufacture. Though the others are aware of Burger's intransigence, Sally defends him: "One never squeals on one's mates."

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Copyright © 2008 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
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