France, crime, drama, director: Jean-Paul Salome, starring: Reda Kateb, Sarah Giraudeau, Bastien Bouillon.
Being an immigrant can be tough, it feels like doors are constantly slamming shut in your face. It's always been that way, and sadly, it still is today. That's what this movie is all about, at least for me.
The main character is a talented engineer from Poland who lives in France. During World War II, he forged documents, helping those who could have died to survive. In peacetime, the man tries to find a job in his specialty. But this requires proper documents, confirmation of a diploma, registration of patents - all of which for an emigrant often turns into a difficult and exhausting struggle.
The main character ultimately becomes a master counterfeiter, but what's interesting is that he doesn't just create fake money, he creates banknotes that are so perfect they're actually better than the real thing. It's as if he's trying to make a point, to show someone out there that he's got a real talent for this, and he's doing it on purpose, almost daring someone to notice. He's not just in it for the money, he wants recognition, he wants someone to see how good he is at creating these fake notes, and that's what drives him to make them so incredibly realistic.
The story is based on real events, which makes it even more interesting. After all, only life itself is able to create such details that give any story a special persuasiveness.
I do not justify the main character: crime remains crime, and the law remains law. However, his fate could have turned out completely differently if there had not been so many obstacles and demands on his path just because he is an emigrant.
So will this talented engineer be found? And why were his fakes later sold at auctions for huge money?
