The Forger (2022)
87%RT Audience Score:
Awards & Nominations: NA
The Forger is a film that manages to capture the essence of a youth that refuses to be defeated by the harsh realities of war and misfortune. Louis Hoffmann delivers a captivating performance as a brash and cocky survivor, whose scenes with Nina Gummich as his landlady are reminiscent of Isherwood’s works. Maggie Peren takes advantage of the limitations of a simple historical recreation, and the film transmits society’s latent and constant fear while also symbolizing its complicity. However, despite its rich production design, The Forger falls short in creating tension and ends up being a handsomely made but tonally flat Third Reich drama. Nevertheless, the boyish charms of Louis Hofmann make this an engaging drama that is worth watching.
The Forger is a flick that totally nails the vibe of a youngin’ who refuses to let the crappy realities of war and bad luck get ’em down. Louis Hoffmann crushes it as a bold and cocky survivor, and his scenes with Nina Gummich as his landlady are like something straight outta Isherwood’s books. Maggie Peren does a solid job with the historical recreation, and the movie totally captures society’s constant fear and complicity. But, even though the production design is top-notch, The Forger doesn’t quite hit the mark when it comes to building suspense, and ends up being a good-looking but kinda flat Third Reich drama. Still, Louis Hofmann’s boyish charm makes this a drama that’s definitely worth checking out.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Kino Lorber
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2022
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:1h 56m
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Language(s):English
ALL CAST, AUSPICES, AND BELOW THE LINE -
Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 3, 2023 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 2, 2023
Genre(s)
History/Drama
Keyword(s)
The Forger, Louis Hofmann, Jonathan Berlin, Luna Wedler, Nina Gummich, André Jung, Marc Limpach, Maggie Peren, Alexander Fritzemeyer, Martin Kosok, History, Drama, Biography, German, Kino Lorber, True Story, World War II, Nazi Germany, Forged IDs, Underground Rescuers, Masterful Forgeries, Brush and Ink, Zest for Life, Marine Officer, Hiding in Plain Sight, Love, Danger, Survival, Box Office Performance, Budget, Reviewed by Frank J Avella, Roger Salvans, Carlos Marañón, Denise Pieniazek, Jay Weissberg, Produced by Alexander Fritzemeyer, Martin Kosok, Directed by Maggie Peren, Written by Maggie Peren, Cioma Schönhaus
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Jonathan Berlin – Det Kassriel
Luna Wedler – Gerda
Nina Gummich – Frau Peters
André Jung – Herr Dietrich
Marc Limpach – Herr Kaufmann
Director – Maggie Peren
Producers – Alexander Fritzemeyer, Martin Kosok
Writers – Maggie Peren, Cioma Schönhaus, Maggie Peren
Director(s)
Maggie Peren
Writer(s)
Maggie Peren, Cioma Schönhaus, Maggie Peren
Producer(s)
Alexander Fritzemeyer, Martin Kosok
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (6) | Fresh (5) | Rotten (1)
(Louis Hoffmann) shoulders the film as a brash and cocky survivor, seemingly unafraid to take risks. Hofmann’s scenes with the extraordinary Nina Gummich as his landlady, Frau Peters, are especially riveting and Isherwood-esque.
February 16, 2023 | Rating: B
Frank J. Avella
Edge Media Network
Manages to transmit the uncontainable energy of a youth that, despite wars and misfortunes, never loses its desire to live. [Full review in Spanish]
January 13, 2023 | Rating: 3/5
Roger Salvans
Fotogramas
[Maggie Peren] takes advantage of the limitations of a simple historical recreation. [Full review in Spanish]
January 11, 2023 | Rating: 3.5/5
Carlos Marañón
Cinemanía (Spain)
…Transmits society’s latent and constant fear. But also symbolizes its complicity — by having a lack of empathy and practicing silence or inaction.
September 8, 2022 | Rating: 7/10
Denise Pieniazek
EscribiendoCine
A handsomely made but tonally flat…Third Reich drama rich in production design yet curiously light on tension.
February 26, 2022
Jay Weissberg
The Film Verdict
An engaging drama that makes the most of the boyish charms of German actor Louis Hofmann…
February 13, 2022
Lee Marshall
Screen International…
Plot
In 1940 Berlin, a young Jewish man named Cioma Schönhaus adopts the identity of a marine officer to escape being deported like his family before him, and becomes infamous for his masterfully forged IDs that save the lives of hundreds of Jews by allowing them to escape the country.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Louis Hofmann plays the lead role of Cioma Schönhaus in The Forger (2022).
Maggie-Peren.jpg
