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.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 3 nominations total
Éva Igó
- Lina's Mother
- (as Eva Igo)
István Bálint
- Lina's Father
- (as Istvan Balint)
János Gosztonyi
- Samuel
- (as Janos Gosztonyi)
Ádám Rajhona
- The Whistler
- (as Adam Rajhona)
Péter Rudolf
- Roman
- (as Peter Rudolf)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis movie and its 1974 predecessor were both based on the novel "Jakob der Lügner", written in 1969 by the East German author Jurek Becker. As Jews, Becker and his parents were placed in a Polish Ghetto in 1939. In order to save him from deportation, his parents gave the Germans a false birth date; Becker forgot his real birth date and was never able to discover it later in life. Although he was eventually sent to the concentration camps Ravensbrück and Sachsenhausen, both he and his father survived the war; his mother died of malnutrition after being freed from the camp. His novel "Jakob der Lügner" won the Heinrich-Mann Prize for literature in 1971; Becker died in 1997 of cancer.
- GoofsThe train locomotive in the lower left-hand corner of the DVD cover artwork is correct for southern California when the movie was released in 1999, but it's totally wrong for the movie's setting in 1944 Poland. Its cab profile was used on various diesel-electric models built by General Motors for the North American market from the early 1960s onwards, it has 1990s-style dual low-mounted safety lights, and its red-and-gray paint scheme bears an uncanny resemblance to that used by the Southern Pacific Railroad in the western United States in the late 20th century.
- 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 creditsSpecial thanks to the city and peoples of Piotrków, Poland, the city and peoples of Lódz, Poland and the city and peoples of Budapest, Hungary.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Siskel & Ebert: American Beauty/Blue Streak/For Love of the Game (1999)
- SoundtracksBeer 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
Featured review
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?
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?
- How long is Jakob the Liar?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- 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
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