Jakob the Liar
“When all hope was lost, he invented it.”
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Jakob the Liar (1999) ORIGINAL TRAILER
Type: Trailer • Published 2023-06-30
Top Cast
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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
Release History & Theatrical Window
September 16, 1999
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$45M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$5M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.11x
-$40M deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Peter Kassovitz
- Screenplay & Story
- Didier Decoin, Peter Kassovitz
- Original Score
- Edward Shearmur
- Original Title
- Jakob the Liar
- Country of Origin
- France, Hungary, United States of America, Germany
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 0m
- Production Budget
- $45M
- Worldwide Gross
- $5M
- Production Studios
- Global Medien KG, Columbia Pictures, Blue Wolf, Kasso Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Peter Kassovitz
Didier Decoin, Peter Kassovitz, Jurek Becker
Edward Shearmur
Elemér Ragályi
Claire Simpson
Steven Haft, Marsha Garces Williams
Department Leadership Roster
Didier Decoin
Screenplay
Steven Haft
Producer
Elemér Ragályi
Director of Photography
Claire Simpson
Editor
Wiesława Starska
Costume Design
Peter Kassovitz
Director
Edward Shearmur
Original Music Composer
Luciana Arrighi
Production Design
Kelley Ray
Visual Effects Supervisor
Marsha Garces Williams
Producer
Peter Kassovitz
Screenplay
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.
Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Jakob the Liar.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Jakob the Liar.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Jakob the Liar
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Jakob the Liar about?
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.
Who directed Jakob the Liar?
Jakob the Liar was directed by Peter Kassovitz.
Who stars in Jakob the Liar?
The principal cast of Jakob the Liar includes Robin Williams, Liev Schreiber, Hannah Taylor-Gordon, Alan Arkin, Michael Jeter.
When was Jakob the Liar released and how long is it?
Jakob the Liar was released in 1999 with a total runtime of 2h 0m.
What was the box office and production budget of Jakob the Liar?
Jakob the Liar had a reported production budget of $45M and grossed $5M at the worldwide box office (0.11 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for Jakob the Liar?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Jakob the Liar was composed by Edward Shearmur.
Is Jakob the Liar based on a book or true story?
Jakob the Liar is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Jurek Becker".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Jakob the Liar?
Jakob the Liar holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: 12 (Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.); US: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.).