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Jakob the Liar

  • 1999
  • PG-13
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
18K
YOUR RATING
Robin Williams in Jakob the Liar (1999)
Theatrical Trailer from Columbia Pictures
Play trailer2:15
2 Videos
86 Photos
ComedyDramaWar

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.

  • Director
    • Peter Kassovitz
  • Writers
    • Jurek Becker
    • Peter Kassovitz
    • Didier Decoin
  • Stars
    • Robin Williams
    • Hannah Taylor Gordon
    • Éva Igó
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    18K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Peter Kassovitz
    • Writers
      • Jurek Becker
      • Peter Kassovitz
      • Didier Decoin
    • Stars
      • Robin Williams
      • Hannah Taylor Gordon
      • Éva Igó
    • 97User reviews
    • 43Critic reviews
    • 40Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 3 nominations

    Videos2

    Jakob The Liar
    Trailer 2:15
    Watch Jakob The Liar
    Jakob The Liar: We'll See You Soon
    Clip 1:05
    Watch Jakob The Liar: We'll See You Soon

    Photos86

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    Top cast39

    Edit
    Robin Williams
    Robin Williams
    • Jakob
    Hannah Taylor Gordon
    Hannah Taylor Gordon
    • Lina
    Éva Igó
    • Lina's Mother
    • (as Eva Igo)
    István Bálint
    • Lina's Father
    • (as Istvan Balint)
    Justus von Dohnányi
    Justus von Dohnányi
    • Preuss
    Kathleen Gati
    Kathleen Gati
    • Hooker
    Bob Balaban
    Bob Balaban
    • Kowalsky
    Alan Arkin
    Alan Arkin
    • Frankfurter
    Michael Jeter
    Michael Jeter
    • Avron
    Mark Margolis
    Mark Margolis
    • Fajngold
    János Gosztonyi
    • Samuel
    • (as Janos Gosztonyi)
    Liev Schreiber
    Liev Schreiber
    • Mischa
    Armin Mueller-Stahl
    Armin Mueller-Stahl
    • Kirschbaum
    Ádám Rajhona
    • The Whistler
    • (as Adam Rajhona)
    Antal Leisen
    Antal Leisen
    • Peg-Leg
    Mathieu Kassovitz
    Mathieu Kassovitz
    • Herschel
    Péter Rudolf
    • Roman
    • (as Peter Rudolf)
    Jan Becker
    • Young German
    • Director
      • Peter Kassovitz
    • Writers
      • Jurek Becker
      • Peter Kassovitz
      • Didier Decoin
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This 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.
    • Goofs
      At the beginning of the film, when Jakob starts chasing the paper, it is clearly light outside, even though it is 7:30 pm in the winter in Poland. Then, 25 minutes later, when Jakob told to go to the police building, it is quite dark. In the winter, the sun would have completely set hours before.
    • 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 Siskel & Ebert: 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 reviews97

    Review
    Review
    Featured review

    Excellent Entertainment

    If you are interested in the holocaust, and want to be entertained at the same time, Jakob the Liar is your film. This is not intended to be an historical film. And, to be sure, it isn't.

    Just speaking for myself, I wish everyone would educate themselves about this horrible episode in human history. If you have a friend who refuses to watch honest historical films, turn them on to Jakob the Liar. It IS Robin Williams, after all. For sure, this film will encourage them to learn more about the holocaust. Its very entertaining and does give some superficial insight into what the atrocity was all about.

    Robin Williams did his best. He did a fine job in this film, and deserves even more credit just for making the attempt. On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give it an 8.
    • SampsonBlack
    • Oct 26, 2004
    • Permalink

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    FAQ20

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 24, 1999 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • France
      • Germany
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Una señal de esperanza
    • 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

    Tech specs

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

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