During World War II in Nazi occupied Poland, poor Jewish café owner Jakob accidentally overhears a forbidden radio news bulletin reporting Soviet military successes against German forces. Jakob spreads the word through the ghetto of the Russian army's progress. When he realizes the effect of the news, he begins inventing stories and passing them along, creating fictional war reports that suggest that the occupation may soon be ending. These lies keep hope and humor alive among the ghetto inhabitants. The Germans learn of the mythical radio, however, and begin a search for the resistance hero who dares operate it.
Details
Physical Description:12 film reels of 12 on 6 (ca. 120 min., ca. 10,800 ft.) : sd., col. ; 35 mm.
Publisher:United States :Tri Star,1999.
General Note:
Copyright: Global Entertainment Productions GmBH & Co. Film KG. DCR 1998; PUB 24Sep99; REG 14Oct99; PA956-289.
Part of summary from All movie guide WWW site, April 9, 2009.
Based on the book, Jakob der Lügner by Jurek Becker.
Sources used: copyright catalog online, copyright data sheet, Internet movie database, July 8, 2002; AllMovie website; New York times online, April 6, 2009.
Creation/Production Credits Note:
Executive producer, Robin Williams ; co-producer, Nick Gillott ; associate producer, Lew Rywin ; music, Edward Shearmur ; director of photography, Elemer Ragalyi ; film editing, Claire Simpson.
Participant or Performer Note:
Robin Williams, Hannah Taylor-Gordon, Eva Igo, Istvan Balint, Liev Schreiber, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Justus von Dohnanyi, Kathleen Gati, Bob Balaban, Alan Arkin, Michael Jeter, Mark Margolis, János Gosztonyi.