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The Forger

Play trailer 1:49 Poster for The Forger Released Mar 3, 2023 1h 56m History Drama Biography Play Trailer Watchlist
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71% Tomatometer 21 Reviews 99% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Berlin, 1940. Cioma Schönhaus (Louis Hofmann, star of the hit Neflix series Dark) is a young Jewish man who won't let anyone take away his zest for life, especially not the Nazis. Since the best hiding spots are in plain sight, Cioma audaciously adopts the identity of a marine officer to escape being deported like his family before him. Drawing on his art school background, he joins a network of underground rescuers and becomes infamous for his masterfully forged IDs -- created with just a brush, some ink, and a steady hand -- that save the lives of hundreds of Jews by allowing them to escape the country. Meanwhile, he throws himself into the city's nightlife and even finds a fragile hope for love during the darkest moments of the war. His talent and propensity for boldness puts him in more and more danger, however, until his only chance of survival is one last forged document -- with his own name on it. Based on a true story.
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The Forger

Critics Reviews

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Noel Murray Los Angeles Times This film is more of a finely detailed character sketch, about a cocky kid who becomes a hero almost by accident. May 5, 2023 Full Review Monica Castillo RogerEbert.com Peren, who wrote and directed “The Forger,” subtly draws out these conflicted characters one by one. Rated: 3/4 Mar 3, 2023 Full Review Natalia Winkelman New York Times Peren is clever to favor mischief against a backdrop of gloom, but in doing so she draws a frustrating distance between her subject and the audience. Mar 2, 2023 Full Review Michael Clark Epoch Times Shortcomings aside, “The Forger” is another little-known Holocaust story showing how people under duress discover the “better angels of their nature” almost by default and do the right thing, even if it means perishing in the process. Rated: 3/5 Aug 12, 2023 Full Review Debopriyaa Dutta High on Films The Forger is a beautifully-rendered tale about one man’s dedication to living life in the backdrop of Nazi Germany, focusing on the domestic mundanities which we often take for granted and molds them into necessary personal rituals for survival. Jul 24, 2023 Full Review Daniel M. Kimmel North Shore Movies Perhaps that’s the real message of “The Forger.” It almost didn’t matter what you did under the genocidal regime. Surviving was as much a matter of luck and chance as it was possessing any particular skills or taking any deliberate actions. Rated: 3/5 May 8, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Svengali A compelling look into wartime Berlin with a well acted storyline about being a nTive Berliner who is a Jew with a talent and wits. Recommended. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/13/23 Full Review Victoria F I really enjoyed it, because the main character was so real, and refused to skulk around. I didn't know some of the history around the story, and so I feel all the better for knowing this now. There is a hint in the movie that Det and the Frau Peters were close "come and hang my chandelier." Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/18/24 Full Review Ty N The most obvious shortcoming throughout the story is the overstretched artistic license. Louis Hofmann is capable of delivering emotional depth when called upon, but the awkward screenplay squanders talent and opportunity. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/17/24 Full Review Chai K Totally a must watch movie!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/25/23 Full Review StephenPaul C The greatest 01 hour: and 56 minutes based on real events!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/06/23 Full Review Richard Good acting good period piecd Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/19/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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The Forger

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Movie Info

Synopsis Berlin, 1940. Cioma Schönhaus (Louis Hofmann, star of the hit Neflix series Dark) is a young Jewish man who won't let anyone take away his zest for life, especially not the Nazis. Since the best hiding spots are in plain sight, Cioma audaciously adopts the identity of a marine officer to escape being deported like his family before him. Drawing on his art school background, he joins a network of underground rescuers and becomes infamous for his masterfully forged IDs -- created with just a brush, some ink, and a steady hand -- that save the lives of hundreds of Jews by allowing them to escape the country. Meanwhile, he throws himself into the city's nightlife and even finds a fragile hope for love during the darkest moments of the war. His talent and propensity for boldness puts him in more and more danger, however, until his only chance of survival is one last forged document -- with his own name on it. Based on a true story.
Director
Maggie Peren
Producer
Alexander Fritzemeyer, Martin Kosok
Screenwriter
Maggie Peren, Cioma Schönhaus, Maggie Peren
Distributor
Kino Lorber
Production Co
Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen, Dreifilm GbR, Network Movie Film- und Fernsehproduktion GmbH & Co. KG (Hamburg), Amour Fou Filmproduktion, Arte
Genre
History, Drama, Biography
Original Language
German
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 3, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
May 2, 2023
Box Office (Gross USA)
$61.0K
Runtime
1h 56m
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