Jakob The Liar ( Jakob, der Lügner )

Jakob The Liar (DVD) (*)

~~$26.99~~ $23.98

Original Title: Jakob, der Lügner
Screened, competed or awarded at:
Berlin International Film Festival
Oscar Academy Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Subtitles )
German ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )

Product Origin/Format:
Germany ( PAL/Region 0 )

Running Time:
97 min

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen

Special Features:
Interactive Menu
Scene Access
Trailer(s)

Movie filmed in 1975 and produced in:
Czech Republic ( Russia, Eastern Europe )
Germany ( Germany, Central Europe )

Directed By:
Frank Beyer

Written By:
Jurek Becker (also novel)

Actors:
Vlastimil Brodský ..... Jakob Heym
Erwin Geschonneck ..... Kowalski
Henry Hübchen ..... Mischa
Blanche Kommerell ..... Rosa Frankfurter
Manuela Simon ..... Lina
Dezsõ Garas ..... Frankfurter
Zsuzsa Gordon ..... Mrs. Frankfurter
Friedrich Richter ..... Dr. Kirschbaum
Margit Bara ..... Josefa
Reimar J. Baur ..... Herschel Schtamm
Armin Mueller-Stahl ..... Roman Schtamm

Synopsis:

A Jewish ghetto in the east of Europe, 1944. By coincidence, Jakob Heym eavesdrops on a German radio broadcast announcing the Soviet Army is making slow by steady progress towards central Europe. In order to keep his companion in misfortune, Mischa, from risking his life for a few potatoes, he tells him what he heard and announces that he is in possession of a radio - in the ghetto a crime punishable by death. It doesn't take long for word of Jakob's secret to spread - suddenly, there is new hope and something to live for - and so Jakob finds himself in the uncomforting position of having to come up with more and more stories.

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 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.

Based on the lauded novel by Jurek Becker, this dark comedy focuses on Jakob Heym (Vlastimil Brodský), a Jew living in a Polish ghetto. When Jakob is temporarily detained by German officers and overhears news on their radio that the Russians are advancing on Nazi forces, he is thrilled at the prospect of freedom. In order to convince others of the news, Jakob pretends that he has a radio of his own - a serious crime in the ghetto - and begins making up stories to maintain his deception.

This product was added to our catalog on Tuesday 07 April, 2009.

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