Jakob the Liar
1999 · Movie · PG-13 · 120 min · ★ 6.7 · 35% critics
In a Nazi-occupied Polish ghetto during World War II, a shopkeeper overhears a radio report about advancing troops and shares it to lift a friend’s spirits. When word spreads that he must have a hidden radio, he’s pressured to keep the story going, using humor and imagination to sustain hope while danger closes in.
Also known as Jakob le menteur
Where to watch
Watch free on Tubi — also streaming on Howdy.
2 hours to watch.
Stream (included)
Streaming availability and prices may be inaccurate or change — verify with the provider before subscribing.
unSUB's subscription recommendations are informational only, not financial advice.
More value for your money
Similar titles, ranked by watch-hours per subscription dollar.
Details
- Years
- 1999
- Release date
- 1999-09-16
- Language
- English
- Rated
- PG-13
- Runtime
- 120 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 35/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.7/10 (404 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a WWII drama that balances bleak reality with wry, hope-driven humor, somewhat in the vein of Patch Adams; Not for you if you prefer light, carefree stories without tragedy.
Pros: moving mix of humor; strong lead performance; hopeful human spirit | Cons: very sad subject; uneven supporting acting; heavy wartime tension
Themes
- based on novel or book
- jewish ghetto
- polish resistance
- jewry
- hope
- ss (nazi schutzstaffel)
- holocaust (shoah)
- world war ii
- jewish life
- radio
- execution
- gestapo
- +12 more
Cast & crew
Robin Williams
as Jakob Heym
Liev Schreiber
as Mischa
Hannah Taylor-Gordon
as Lina Kronstein
Alan Arkin
as Max Frankfurter
Michael Jeter
as Avron
Bob Balaban
as Kowalsky
Armin Mueller-Stahl
as Prof. Dr. Kirschbaum
Éva Igó
as Lina's Mother
- IB
István Bálint
as Lina's Father
Mark Margolis
as Fajngold
Directed by Peter Kassovitz