Jakob the Liar (1999)
Genre: Drama / War
Duration: 116 minuten
Country:
United States / France / Hungary
Directed by: Peter Kassovitz
Stars: Robin Williams, Liev Schreiber and Armin Mueller-Stahl
IMDb score:
6,5 (17.592)
Releasedate: 16 September 1999
Jakob the Liar plot
"When all hope was lost, he invented it."
During the Second World War, under the ironclad regime of the Nazis, the life of the Jews in a Polish ghetto in Warsaw consists of starvation, abuse and, moreover, they are completely cut off from outside news. A poor Jewish cafe owner, Jakob Heym (Williams) accidentally hears a banned radio news bulletin about the Soviet army's success against the Germans. To reduce the incredible depression and suicide rate in the Jewish ghetto, Jakob trumpets tales of fictional Allied victories over the Nazis. As a result, optimism and belief in the future are slowly but surely returning to the ghetto. However, the Germans hear rumors of a 'secret radio' and start looking for anyone who dares to undermine their authority.
Actors and actresses
Jakob Heym
Mischa
Lina Kronstein
Max Frenkfurter
Avron
Kowalsky
Prof. Dr. Kirschbaum
Lina's Mother
Linas's Father
Fajngold
Reviews & comments
Fran
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- 1953 messages
- 1732 votes
Unfortunately, I thought this was just an average movie, while I was actually expecting quite a bit from it. Although of course you do that with every movie you are going to watch, but that aside.
For some reason I didn't really like the humor in combination with the horrors that take place. It is of course very difficult to find a humorous tone in a setting like this, but unfortunately I don't like it in this film. I think it worked out better with "La vita e bella". Of course that is also something else, but it is also a film that takes place in the second world war and where humor is used.
I wasn't sure whether they wanted to go into the humor side or the drama side of the war, which left the film very much in the middle. Robin Williams was also very good.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Decec
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- 6874 messages
- 8774 votes
A good comedy/drama/war movie...
Good story...
Great acting...
As previously known actor Robin Williams (he is always talk show
for radio)...
The rest also famous actors Alan Arkin and Armin Mueller-Stahl...
Perfect background sound/music (old movie 1999 = Dolby Digital 5.1)...
Nice HD quality widescreen...
Translated from Dutch · View original
BBarbie
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- 12893 messages
- 7675 votes
I've seen some haunting films about the horrors of the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II and I think this is the least despite the impressive occupation.
Director Peter Kassovitz is in my opinion a little too lighthearted with the horrors of that time. Nevertheless a pleasant reunion with the very young Hannah Taylor Gordon, who already impressed me with her title role in Anne Frank: The Whole Story.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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