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Jakob the Liar (1999)

 -  Comedy | Drama | War  -  24 September 1999 (USA)
6.2
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Ratings: 6.2/10 from 8,860 users   Metascore: 40/100
Reviews: 82 user | 70 critic | 25 from Metacritic.com

In 1944 Poland, a Jewish shop keeper named Jakob is summoned to ghetto headquarters after being caught out near curfew. While waiting for the German Kommondant, Jakob overhears a German ... See full summary »

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Title: Jakob the Liar (1999)

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
Éva Igó ...
Lina's Mother (as Eva Igo)
István Bálint ...
Lina's Father (as Istvan Balint)
Justus von Dohnányi ...
Preuss
...
Hooker
...
...
...
Avron
...
Fajngold
János Gosztonyi ...
Samuel (as Janos Gosztonyi)
...
...
Ádám Rajhona ...
The Whistler (as Adam Rajhona)
Antal Leisen ...
Peg-Leg
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Storyline

In 1944 Poland, a Jewish shop keeper named Jakob is summoned to ghetto headquarters after being caught out near curfew. While waiting for the German Kommondant, Jakob overhears a German radio broadcast about Russian troop movements. Returned to the ghetto, the shopkeeper shares his information with a friend and then rumors fly that there is a secret radio within the ghetto. Jakob uses the chance to spread hope throughout the ghetto by continuing to tell favorable tales of information from "his secret radio." Jakob, however, has a real secret in that he is hiding a young Jewish girl who escaped from a camp transport train. A rather uplifting and slightly humorous film about World War II Jewish Ghetto life. Written by Anthony Hughes <husnock31@hotmail.com>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

ghetto | radio | german | hope | nazi | See more »

Taglines:

He will make you believe. See more »

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | War

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violence and disturbing images | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

| |

Language:

Release Date:

24 September 1999 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Una señal de esperanza  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$2,056,647 (USA) (24 September 1999)

Gross:

$4,956,401 (USA) (29 October 1999)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

|

Color:

(Rankcolor)
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Did You Know?

Trivia

In order to be consistent with Nordic/Germanic pronounciations, Jakob's name would actually be pronounced "Yah-kopp". See more »

Goofs

In spite of careful attention on German cars in the film, the Soviet tanks at the end are T-55 from the 1950s, while original wartime T-34 are easily available in Eastern Europe. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Jakob Heym: Hitler goes to a fortune-teller and asks, "When will I die?" And the fortune-teller replies, "On a Jewish holiday." Hitler then asks, "How do you know that?" And she replies, "Any day you die will be a Jewish holiday."
See more »

Crazy Credits

Special thanks to the city and peoples of Piotrków, Poland, the city and peoples of Lódz, Poland and the city and peoples of Budapest, Hungary. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Geiger, Gaukler, Gentleman (2001) See more »

Soundtracks

"Rakoczy March"
Written by Hector Berlioz
Performed by Cleveland Pops Orchestra
Conducted by Louis Lane
Courtesy of Sony Classical
By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Very good movie
9 May 2006 | by (United States) – See all my reviews

Well in my 9th grade history class in school we are learning about WW2 and so we watched Jakob the Liar and I think it was great, Robin Williams does good in the movie. I think they did the movie real well and really do good at showing how it was back in the 1940's during the war and how the Jews were treated. And i like how hey put some comedy into it also but not to much. When watching the movie i was very entertained the whole time. And the whole time you are left in suspense trying to figure out what is going next and what is going to happen to the main character Jakob with all the lying he does if either he was going to get caught or get away with it. And also how long he was going to go with the lie of him having a radio.And i just recommend this movie to teens or teachers who are looking for a good World War 2 movie.


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