Jacob the Liar

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.

Cast

Vlastimil Brodský

Jakob Heym

Erwin Geschonneck

Kowalski

Henry Hübchen

Mischa

Blanche Kommerell

Rose Frankfurter

Manuela Simon

Lina

Zsuzsa Gordon

Mrs. Frankfurter

Armin Mueller-Stahl

Roman Schlamm

Friedrich Richter

Dr. Kirschbaum

Margit Bara

Josefa

Reimar Johannes Baur

Herschel Schlamm

Crew

Frank Beyer

Director

Rita Hiller

Editor

Herbert Ehler

Producer

Günter Marczinkowsky

Director of Photography

Joachim Werzlau

Original Music Composer

Frank Beyer

Screenplay

Alfred Hirschmeier

Set Designer

Joachim Dittrich

Costume Design

Jurek Becker

Novel

Jurek Becker

Screenplay

Clips & Videos

Masters of Cinema Trailer

Masters of Cinema Unboxing Video

Clip

Official 2025 4K Restoration Trailer [Subtitled]