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Jakob the Liar

  • 19991999
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
17K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Robin Williams in Jakob the Liar (1999)
Theatrical Trailer from Columbia Pictures
Play trailer2:15
1 Video
57 Photos
  • Drama
  • War

During World War II, an ordinary inhabitant of a ghetto fakes news about Allied offensives to inspire hope for other victims of the Nazi regime.During World War II, an ordinary inhabitant of a ghetto fakes news about Allied offensives to inspire hope for other victims of the Nazi regime.During World War II, an ordinary inhabitant of a ghetto fakes news about Allied offensives to inspire hope for other victims of the Nazi regime.

IMDb RATING
6.5/10
17K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Peter Kassovitz
  • Writers
    • Jurek Becker(novel "Jakob der Lügner")
    • Peter Kassovitz(screenplay)
    • Didier Decoin(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Robin Williams
    • Hannah Taylor Gordon
    • Éva Igó
Top credits
  • Director
    • Peter Kassovitz
  • Writers
    • Jurek Becker(novel "Jakob der Lügner")
    • Peter Kassovitz(screenplay)
    • Didier Decoin(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Robin Williams
    • Hannah Taylor Gordon
    • Éva Igó
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 96User reviews
    • 44Critic reviews
    • 40Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 3 nominations

    Videos1

    Jakob The Liar
    Trailer 2:15
    Jakob The Liar

    Photos57

    Jakob dances with Lina
    Mischa & Lina
    Max & Mischa
    Robin Williams stars as Jakob Heym
    Jakob with Kowalsky, Kirschbaum and others
    Robin Williams stars as Jakob Heym
    Kathleen Gati with Robin Williams on the set of "Jakob, The Liar"
    Bob Balaban and Robin Williams with Director Peter Kassovitz
    1 sheet movie poster
    1 sheet video release movie poster
    Quad Movie Poster, 40 x 30
    Robin Williams in Jakob the Liar (1999)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robin Williams
    Robin Williams
    • Jakobas Jakob
    Hannah Taylor Gordon
    Hannah Taylor Gordon
    • Linaas Lina
    Éva Igó
    • Lina's Motheras Lina's Mother
    István Bálint
    • Lina's Fatheras Lina's Father
    Justus von Dohnányi
    Justus von Dohnányi
    • Preussas Preuss
    Kathleen Gati
    Kathleen Gati
    • Hookeras Hooker
    Bob Balaban
    Bob Balaban
    • Kowalskyas Kowalsky
    Alan Arkin
    Alan Arkin
    • Frankfurteras Frankfurter
    Michael Jeter
    Michael Jeter
    • Avronas Avron
    Mark Margolis
    Mark Margolis
    • Fajngoldas Fajngold
    János Gosztonyi
    • Samuelas Samuel
    • (as Janos Gosztonyi)
    Liev Schreiber
    Liev Schreiber
    • Mischaas Mischa
    Armin Mueller-Stahl
    Armin Mueller-Stahl
    • Kirschbaumas Kirschbaum
    Ádám Rajhona
    • The Whistleras The Whistler
    • (as Adam Rajhona)
    Antal Leisen
    Antal Leisen
    • Peg-Legas Peg-Leg
    Mathieu Kassovitz
    Mathieu Kassovitz
    • Herschelas Herschel
    Péter Rudolf
    • Romanas Roman
    • (as Peter Rudolf)
    Jan Becker
    • Young Germanas Young German
    • Director
      • Peter Kassovitz
    • Writers
      • Jurek Becker(novel "Jakob der Lügner")
      • Peter Kassovitz(screenplay)
      • Didier Decoin(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —Anthony Hughes <husnock31@hotmail.com>
    • based on novel
    • character name as title
    • three word title
    • jacob the liar character
    • timeframe 1940s
    • 40 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • When all hope was lost, he invented it.
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • War
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for violence and disturbing images
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Although thematically the film is very similar in tone and subject with Roberto Benigni's La vita è bella (1997), it actually started production well before the release of the Italian film.
    • Goofs
      When Jakob is chasing after the newspaper, a wire pulling the newspaper is briefly visible.
    • 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."

    • 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.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: American Beauty/Blue Streak/For Love of the Game (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Beer Barrel Polka (Roll Out The Barrel)
      Written by Lew Brown, Wladimir A. Timm (as Wladimir Timm), Jaromir Vejvoda & Vasek Zeman
      Performed by The Andrews Sisters
      Courtesy of MCA Records
      By Arrangement with Universal Music Special Markets

    User reviews96

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Misconceptions?
    Maybe the reason I keep hearing so many negative comments on this film is because people aren't seeing it for what it is. It is not a comedy by any stretch of the imagination. It is not an attempt to profit from LA VITA E BELLA (this was filmed in the autumn of '97, before the Benigni film was even released in Italy).

    The truth is, JAKOB THE LIAR is an incredible film in its own right. I've read/seen many other Holocaust testimonials (including MAUS and the aforementioned LA VITA E BELLA), but this was by far the most stirring of any of them. I was especially impressed by Robin Williams' performance. Granted, I'm partial to him, but I was completely bowled over by this performance. I believe this is the darkest and most serious role he has ever done, but he pulls it off magnificently.

    Don't believe the nay-sayers on this one ... this is incredible. It's a must-see for everyone. Would I lie to you?
    helpful•34
    8
    • Weebette
    • Sep 25, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 24, 1999 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • France
      • Germany
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 善意的謊言
    • Filming locations
      • Budapest, Hungary
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Blue Wolf Productions
      • Kasso Inc. Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $45,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $4,956,401
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $2,056,647
      • Sep 26, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,956,401
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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