Jakob the Liar
When all hope was lost, he invented it.
1999 • 120 min • Comedy · Drama · History
Synopsis
In 1944 Poland, a Jewish shop keeper named Jakob is summoned to ghetto headquarters after being caught out after 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.
Our family guide
Best from age 13- 67 Audience · 414 · 100%
In a WWII Jewish ghetto, Jakob accidentally overhears a hopeful radio broadcast. To lift spirits, he invents stories of Allied advances, leading residents to believe there's a hidden radio. His tales bring fleeting hope amidst dire circumstances.
- Violence & peril
- 4/10
- Language
- 2/10
- Drinking, drugs & smoking
- 1/10
- Romance & sensuality
- 1/10
- Scary moments
- 5/10
Heads up
- Depictions of life in a WWII Jewish ghetto
- Presence of Nazi soldiers and their authority
- Themes of oppression and potential execution
What it models well
- Hope and resilience
- Courage in adversity
- Community support
Talk about it after
- The power of hope, even in desperate times
- The importance of truth versus comforting lies
- The impact of propaganda and rumors
Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for Jakob the Liar. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.
Where to watch
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Top billed cast
Director: Peter Kassovitz • Crew: Didier Decoin, Peter Kassovitz
Trailers & clips
Jakob the Liar (1999) ORIGINAL TRAILER
Reviewer notes
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Details
- TMDB audience
- 6.7/10 (414)
- Age rating
- PG-13
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $45,000,000
- Box office
- $4,956,701
- IMDb
- tt0120716
