Jakob, der Lügner (Jacob the Liar) poster & wallpaper
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Vlastimil Brodský, Erwin Geschonneck, Henry Huebchen, Blanche Kommerell, Dezso Garas ... see more see more... , Margit Bara , Armin Mueller-Stahl

The screenplay for this wartime tragi-comedy was written by Jurek Becker, a Jewish survivor of the concentration camps and the Warsaw Ghetto. When he could not get the script produced, he transformed ... read more read more...it into a worldwide best-selling novel. This movie was produced about ten years after the screenplay was originally written. The story concerns a ghetto character, Jacob (Vlastimil Brodsky) who tells the others huddled there that the Russians are winning the war against the Germans and are advancing on Warsaw. How does he know? He says he has a radio hidden away, which, if true, could earn him immediate execution. In fact, there is no such radio, and his prediction (for such it is) is years ahead of events. When the Germans begin executing residents and shipping the rest to concentration camps, his lie is shown for what it is. Indeed, his best friend commits suicide as soon as he learns the truth. However, for a little while, Jacob the Liar kept hope alive in a hopeless situation. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Flixster Users

77% liked it

579 ratings

Critics

100% liked it

6 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 35 min.

Directed by: Frank Beyer

Release Date: April 17, 1975

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DVD Release Date: September 28, 1999

Stats: 34 reviews

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Armin Mueller-Stahl and Robin Williams Armin Mueller-Stahl
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Flixster Reviews (34)

  • marevalo83
    April 18, 2010
    marevalo83
    Not sure I'd call it a "drama/comedy." I imagine this must have at least partially inspired "Life is Beautiful," which I actually LOVE (and that, yes, can see the commedic element in). It was a sad but important piece. I am not one of those who think we have enough Holocaust m... read moreovies, and I'm always up for more.

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Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
December 15, 2010
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

This East Germany bitter-sweet comedy about a Polish ghetto in WWII was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Oscar but didn't win. Full Review

Peter Stack
January 1, 2000
Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
July 22, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Philip Martin
January 10, 2005
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

No review available.

Linda Cook
February 24, 2004
Linda Cook, Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

No review available.

Jules Brenner
November 11, 2003
Jules Brenner, Cinema Signals

No review available.

Wesley Lovell
April 23, 2002
Wesley Lovell, Apollo Guide

Click to read the article Full Review

May 24, 2003
Film4

Click to read the article Full Review

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