Summaries

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.

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 <[email protected]>

During World War II in Nazi occupied Poland, poor Jewish café owner Jakob ('Robin Williams') accidentally overhears a forbidden radio news bulletin signaling Soviet military successes against German forces. To fight the incredible depression and suicide throughout the ghetto, Jakob tells fictitious news bulletins about Allied advances against the Nazis. These lies keep hope and humor alive among the ghetto inhabitants. The Germans learn of the mythical radio, however, and begin a search for the resistance hero who dares operate it.—Anonymous

Details

Keywords
  • character name as title
  • based on novel
  • three word title
  • ghetto
  • jacob the liar character
Genres
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • War
Release date Sep 23, 1999
Motion Picture Rating (MPA) PG-13
Countries of origin United States Germany France
Language English
Filming locations Budapest, Hungary
Production companies Columbia Pictures Blue Wolf Productions Kasso Inc. Productions

Box office

Budget $45000000
Gross US & Canada $4956401
Opening weekend US & Canada $2056647
Gross worldwide $4956401

Tech specs

Runtime 2h
Color Color
Sound mix Dolby SDDS
Aspect ratio 1.85 : 1

Synopsis

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