Jakob the Liar
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.
Critics Sentiment
Jakob refuses to confess publicly and is executed
Germans demand the radio owner surrender or hostages die
The film drops to its lowest point during the German ultimatum but rebounds strongly for Jakob's final defiant moment, rising 2.5 points as his heroic sacrifice resonates with viewers.
Jakob the Liar maintains solid sentiment throughout most of its runtime, with reviewers appreciating Robin Williams' controlled dramatic performance and the film's authentic portrayal of an ordinary man becoming an unlikely hero. The sentiment peaks during Jakob's final act of defiance, where critics found his refusal to confess and subsequent execution both powerful and fitting. While some reviewers noted pacing issues and inconsistent tonal choices, the overall reception remained positive for its unique blend of hope and tragedy.
Full cast
Robin Williams
Jakob Heym
Liev Schreiber
Mischa
Hannah Taylor-Gordon
Lina Kronstein
Alan Arkin
Max Frankfurter
Michael Jeter
Avron
Bob Balaban
Kowalsky
Armin Mueller-Stahl
Prof. Dr. Kirschbaum
Éva Igó
Lina's Mother
István Bálint
Lina's Father
Mark Margolis
Fajngold
Mathieu Kassovitz
Herschel
Justus von Dohnányi
Preuss
Kathleen Gati
Hooker
Zofia Saretok
Neighbor
Nina Siemaszko
Rosa Frankfurter
Grażyna Barszczewska
Mrs. Frankfurter
Crew
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