Jakob the Liar (1999)

Director:

Peter Kassovitz

Writers (WGA):

Jurek Becker (novel)
Peter Kassovitz (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

24 September 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | War

Tagline:

When all hope was lost, he invented it.

Plot:

In 1944 Poland, a Jewish shop keeper named Jakob is summoned to ghetto headquarters after being caught out after curfew...

Plot Keywords:

Ghetto | Radio | German | Hope | Nazi

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Robin Williams	...	Jakob
Hannah Taylor-Gordon	...	Lina (as Hannah Taylor Gordon)
Éva Igó	...	Lina's Mother (as Eva Igo)
István Bálint	...	Lina's Father (as Istvan Balint)
Justus von Dohnanyi	...	Preuss
Kathleen Gati	...	Hooker
Bob Balaban	...	Kowalsky
Alan Arkin	...	Frankfurter
Michael Jeter	...	Avron
Mark Margolis	...	Fajngold
János Gosztonyi	...	Samuel (as Janos Gosztonyi)
Liev Schreiber	...	Mischa
Armin Mueller-Stahl	...	Kirschbaum
Ádám Rajhona	...	The Whistler (as Adam Rajhona)
Antal Leisen	...	Peg-Leg
Mathieu Kassovitz	...	Herschel
Péter Rudolf	...	Roman (as Peter Rudolf)
Jan Becker	...	Young German
János Kulka	...	Nathan (as Janos Kulka)
Gregg Bello	...	Blumenthal
Nina Siemaszko	...	Rosa
Grazyna Barszczewska	...	Mrs. Frankfurter
Judit Sagi	...	Mrs. Avron
Ilona Psota	...	Grandmother
Ági Margittay	...	Miss Esther (as Agi Margitai)
Iván Darvas	...	Hardtloff (as Ivan Darvas)
László Borbély	...	Doctor (as Laszlo Borbely)
Zoltan Barabas	...	Meyer (as Zoli Anders)
Miroslaw Zbrojewicz	...	SS Officer 1
Józef Mika	...	Soldier (as Jozef Mika)
György Szkladányi	...	SS Officer 2
Zofia Saretok	...	Neighbor
Michael Mehlmann	...	Escaping Man
Mirtill Micheller	...	Lady Singer
Orsolya Pflum	...	Lady Singer
Beatrix Bisztricsan	...	Lady Singer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Adolf Hitler	...	Himself (Behind Us Comes Germany Speech) (voice) (archive footage) (uncredited)
Anna Nowak	...	Maria (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter Kassovitz

Writing credits (WGA)
Jurek Becker		(novel "Jakob der Lügner")
Peter Kassovitz		(screenplay) &
Didier Decoin		(screenplay)

Produced by
Nick Gillott	....	co-producer
Steven Haft	....	producer
Lew Rywin	....	associate producer: Poland
Marsha Garces Williams	....	producer
Robin Williams	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Ed Shearmur		(as Edward Shearmur)

Cinematography by
Elemér Ragályi		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Claire Simpson

Casting by
Kerry Barden
Billy Hopkins
Suzanne Smith

Production Design by
Luciana Arrighi

Costume Design by
Wieslawa Starska

Makeup Department
Elzbieta Bumbul	....	hair assistant: Poland
Jadwiga Cichocka	....	hair assistant: Poland
Maja Gawinska	....	makeup assistant: Poland (as Maja Gawinska-Lyczkowska)
Katalin Jakots	....	makeup supervisor: Hungary (as Kati Jakóts)
Tomasz Matraszek	....	makeup assistant: Poland
Cheri Minns	....	makeup artist: Mr. Williams, Hungary
Gabi Nemeth	....	hair stylist supervisor: Hungary (as Gabriella Németh)
Erzsébet Rácz	....	hair assistant: Hungary
Anna Tesner	....	makeup assistant: Hungary

Production Management
Sándor Baló	....	production manager: Hungary
Tamás Maros	....	unit manager: Hungary
Dusty Symonds	....	unit production manager
Michal Szczerbic	....	production manager: Poland

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Marek Brodzki	....	assistant director: Poland
Caspar Campbell	....	assistant director: Hungary
Mark Egerton	....	first assistant director
Balázs Kovács	....	assistant director: Hungary (as Balácz Kovác)
Liz Legum	....	second assistant director
Jerzy Mizak	....	assistant director: Poland
Rita Nagy	....	assistant director: Hungary
Péter Rácz	....	assistant director: Hungary
András Surányi	....	assistant director: Hungary
Magdalena Szwarcbart	....	assistant director: Poland
Mike Mitchell	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Anna Adamaszek	....	assistant art director: Poland
Branimir Babic	....	art director: Hungary
Ewa Braun	....	assistant set decorator: Poland
Mark Fruin	....	assistant props: Hungary
Zoltán Hardy	....	assistant props: Hungary (as Zoltán Hardi)
Sára Iványi	....	art department assistant: Hungary
Tibor Lázár	....	art director: Hungary
László Makai	....	assistant set decorator: Hungary
Éva Martin	....	construction manager: Hungary
Ágnes Menyhárt	....	set dresser: Hungary (as Ági Menyhért)
Zsuzsanna Orbán	....	art department assistant: Hungary
Grzegorz Piatkowski	....	art director: Poland
Bogdan Piotrowski	....	prop man: Poland
Elwira Pluta	....	assistant art director: Poland
Ewa Rojek	....	assistant art director: Poland
Miklós Schmelcz	....	assistant construction manager: Hungary (as Miklós Schmelz)
Tamás Tamási	....	lead man: Hungary
Waldemar Weiss	....	construction coordinator: Poland
Ian Whittaker	....	set decorator: Hungary
Arthur Wicks	....	property master: Hungary
Csaba Nemesházi	....	swing gang (uncredited)
Lajos E. Szabó	....	stand-by painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Jay Boekelheide	....	sound effects editor
Abdul Cantor	....	assistant sound effects editor
Kim B. Christensen	....	sound designer (as Kim Christensen)
Matthew Desorgher	....	boom operator: Hungary
Patrick Dodd	....	supervising sound editor
Malcolm Fife	....	foley artist
Steve Fontano	....	foley mixer
Julie Lindner	....	adr editor
Marnie Moore	....	foley artist
Margie O'Malley	....	foley artist
David Parker	....	sound re-recording mixer
Richard Quinn	....	dialogue editor
Frank Rinella	....	foley recordist
Leslie Shatz	....	sound re-recording mixer
Erich Stratmann	....	assistant sound effects editor
Patti Tauscher	....	assistant foley editor
Clive Winter	....	sound recordist: Hungary
Mac Ruth	....	cable person (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Miroslaw Bartosik	....	special effects: Poland
Ferenc Ormos	....	special effects: Hungary
Kazimierz Wróblewski	....	pyrotechnician: Poland (as Kazimierz Wroblewski)
János Berki	....	special effects: Hungary (uncredited)
Gabor Kiszelly	....	special effects: Hungary (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Heather Davis Baker	....	CG supervisor (uncredited)
Anthony Harris	....	visual effects timing coordinator (uncredited)
Paul McGhee	....	film scanning and recording (uncredited)
Bob Peitzman	....	senior compositor (uncredited)
Declan Quinn	....	CG set extensions (uncredited)
Kelley Ray	....	visual effects supervisor: SPI (uncredited)
David A. Smith	....	digital artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Mike Mitchell	....	stunt double: Mr. Williams, Hungary
Sándor Boros	....	stunts (uncredited)
Zbigniew Modej	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bogdan Dabrowski	....	assistant camera: Poland
Balázs Dobóczi	....	video operator: Hungary
Gellért Drávucz	....	assistant camera: Hungary
Egon Endrényi	....	still photographer: Hungary
Tomasz Gradowski	....	assistant chief lighting technician: Poland
Ákos Gulyás	....	assistant camera: Hungary
Miklós Hajdu	....	gaffer: Hungary
Zbigniew Jakubowski	....	assistant camera: Poland
Ferenc Németh	....	assistant camera: Hungary
Tamas Nyerges	....	Steadicam operator: Hungary (as Tamás P. Nyerges)
Tamas Nyerges	....	second camera operator: Hungary (as Tamás P. Nyerges)
Tamás Oláh	....	focus puller: Hungary
György Simon	....	best boy: Hungary
Imre Sisa	....	dolly grip: Hungary
András Váradi	....	focus puller: Hungary
Csaba Bankhardt	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Zsolt Csutak	....	casting: Hungary
Simone Ireland	....	casting: Hungary
Risa Kes	....	casting: Hungary
Vanessa Pereira	....	casting: Hungary
Magdalena Szwarcbart	....	casting: Hungary (as Magda Szwarcbart)
Deborah Maxwell Dion	....	casting associate: Los Angeles (uncredited)
Tamás Kertész	....	extras casting: Hungary (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Derek J. Baskerville	....	costumer: Mr. Williams, Hungary
Gabriella Hógye	....	wardrobe assistant: Hungary
Katalin Imrei	....	assistant wardrobe mistress: Hungary (as Kati Imrey)
Anna Kiljanska	....	wardrobe assistant: Poland
Adam Kocemba	....	wardrobe assistant: Poland
Malgorzata Mazowienska	....	wardrobe assistant: Poland
István Pataki	....	wardrobe assistant: Hungary
Anna Rychlik	....	wardrobe assistant: Poland
Ewa Skorza	....	assistant costume designer: Poland
Malgorzata Stefaniak	....	wardrobe mistress: Hungary
Andrzej Szenajch	....	costumer: military, Hungary (as Andrej Szenajch)
Eva Wagner	....	wardrobe assistant: Hungary

Editorial Department
Megan B. Agosto	....	assistant film editor
Wayne Billheimer	....	post-production assistant: Hungary
Adam Green	....	assistant film editor
Robin Lee	....	assistant film editor
Dana Mulligan	....	associate film editor
David Orr	....	color timer
Dale Jones	....	avid technician (uncredited)
Eric Rigney	....	avid technician (uncredited)

Music Department
John Bell	....	additional orchestrator
Andy Brown	....	music contractor
Vic Fraser	....	music preparation
Stephen McLaughlin	....	music mixer (as Stephen P. McLaughlin)
Stephen McLaughlin	....	music recordist (as Stephen P. McLaughlin)
Craig Pettigrew	....	music editor

Transportation Department
László Mészáros	....	transportation manager: Hungary

Other crew
Bernadett Baló	....	production assistant: Hungary
Réka Belsô	....	bilingual secretary: Hungary (as Reká Belsó)
Ferenc Béres	....	assistant location manager: Hungary
Barbara Berkery	....	assistant dialogue coach: Hungary
Andrzej Besztak	....	production coordinator: Poland
Éva Bognár	....	assistant: Mr. Gillott, Hungary
Ilona Braciak	....	production assistant: Poland
Ewa Brodzka	....	assistant: Mr. Szczerbie, Poland
Adam Bryant	....	stand-in: Mr. Williams, Hungary
Barbara Cieslak	....	production secretary: Poland
Gabriella Csoma	....	production coordinator: Hungary
Beata Cybula	....	production assistant: Poland
Malgorzata Dedek	....	assistant accountant: Poland
Agata Deka	....	production assistant: Poland
Petra Doba Simkó	....	production assistant: Hungary
Bori Fábián	....	assistant: Mr. Haft, Hungary
Jennifer Garces	....	assistant: Mrs. Williams, Hungary (as Jennifer Garces Cerchiai)
Karen Gordon	....	production accountant: Hungary
Annette Grot	....	assistant: Mr. Haft, Hungary
Elzbieta Heleniak	....	assistant accountant: Poland
Géza Jánossy	....	caterer: Hungary
Joanna Jedlecka-Skrodzka	....	assistant location manager: Poland (as Joanna Jedlecka Skrodzka)
Grazyna Kozlowska	....	location manager: Poland
Lev Mailer	....	adr voice
Kati Marusa	....	bilingual secretary: Hungary (as Katalin Marusa)
Jennie McClean	....	production coordinator: Hungary
Karin Mercurio	....	assistant accountant: Hungary
Tamás Mink	....	production assistant: Hungary
Tim Monich	....	dialogue coach: Hungary
Feliks Pastusiak	....	assistant: Mr. Rywin, Poland
Tadeusz Pilich	....	catering: Poland
Nada Pinter	....	script supervisor: Hungary
Luigi Riitano	....	assistant accountant: Poland
Laszlo Rorariusz	....	location manager: Hungary (as László Roráriusz)
Anikó Rupp	....	assistant: Mr. Kassovitz, Hungary
Nina Saxon	....	title designer: end titles
Nina Saxon	....	title designer: main title
István Sótér	....	production assistant: Hungary
Rebecca Erwin Spencer	....	assistant: Mr. Williams, Hungary
Marcin Szczerbic	....	production assistant: Poland
Michael Umble	....	unit publicist: Hungary
Nelly Valliot	....	assistant: Mr. Kassovitz, Poland
Bohnie Avanzino	....	title designer: New Wave Entertainment (uncredited)
Tamás Pintér	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Luigi Riitano	....	location accountant (uncredited)
Gábor Xantus	....	set doctor (uncredited)

Thanks
Christina Becker	....	special thanks
Nicholas Bucknall	....	special thanks (as Nick Bucknall)
Eddie Hession	....	special thanks (as Eddie Hessian)
Greg Knowles	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• TriStar Pictures (presents)
• Blue Wolf (as Blue Wolf Productions)
• Global Entertainment Productions GmbH & Company Medien KG (as Global Entertainment Productions GmbH & Co. Film KG)
• Kasso Inc. Productions (as Kasso Inc.)

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (1999-2000) (worldwide) (all media)
• TriStar Pictures (1999) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1999) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film (1999) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (1999) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (2000) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2000) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2000) (France) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2000) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (2000) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2000) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Domestic Television (2002-) (USA) (TV)
• Net5 (2002) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Sony Pictures Television (2002-) (USA) (TV)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2004) (UK) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Sony Pictures Imageworks (SPI) (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Cinema Research  opticals
• Editions Bernard Grasset  translation "Jacob Le Menteur" used courtesy of
• London Symphony Orchestra, The (LSO)  special thanks
• Mo Henry & Associates  negative cutting
• New Wave Entertainment  title design (uncredited)
• Saul Zaentz Film Center  sound services

Also Known As:

Jakob le menteur (France)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence and disturbing images.

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

France | USA | Hungary

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Sound Mix:

Dolby | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Malaysia:U | USA:PG-13 (certificate #36159) | South Korea:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Budapest, Hungary

Company:

TriStar Pictures

Trivia:

Armin Mueller-Stahl, who plays Dr. Kirschbaum (the Professor) was also in Jakob, der Lügner (1975) (upon which the 1999 film is based) as Roman Stahm, the brother of the character who was shot.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: One of the supposed SS guards is wearing a field cap with the black-red-gold insignia of the modern German military, the Bundeswehr.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Jakob Heym: Hitler goes to a fortune-teller and asks, "When will I die?" And the fortune-teller replies, "On a Jewish holiday." Hitler then asks, "How do you know that?" And she replies, "Any day you die will be a Jewish holiday."

Movie Connections:

Referenced in After School Special (2003)

Soundtrack:

Beer Barrel Polka (Roll Out The Barrel)

Testifying To The Power Of Hope

Over the years, I have found Robin Williams to be one of the most frustrating actors around. Clearly loaded with talent, in my opinion at least most of his movies have been disappointments. He either gives unnecessarily over-the-top performances that really don't fit the context, or he controls his natural comedic instincts to the point at which he comes across as uninspired. So I wasn't sure what to expect in "Jakob the Liar." What I found was a surprisingly good performance in a wonderful movie.

Williams plays Jakob Heym, confined to the Jewish Ghetto of Warsaw by the Nazis during the Second World War. With hope fading, Heym accidentally discovers that Russian troops aren't far away, and begins to spread the news. Others become convinced that he has a radio hidden, and Heym's fictional "news reports" from the BBC provide enough hope to keep the residents of the Ghetto going through this dark time.

Williams (also executive producer) did a fine job as Heym. As one would expect, his character comes across as something of a comedian ("I believe we're God's Chosen People; I just wish He had chosen someone else!") but his humour is appropriate; the sort of dark humour one would expect from people in this situation. The other performances faded into the background, not because they were bad but because Williams so dominated the movie. Special mention should go to Justus von Dohnanyi, though, who played the Nazi Commandant "Preuss." Dohnanyi manages to capture exactly the sort of slimy, inhuman character one would expect to be put in charge of such a business. The rest of the cast (primarily Hannah Taylor-Gordon as Lina and Liev Schreiber as Mischa) are good, but overshadowed by Williams.

The character of Kirschbaum (played by Armin Mueller-Stahl) filled me with sadness and represents a clear statement of the evils of Nazism. A world-famous cardiologist, Kirschbaum, because he is Jewish, is forbidden to practice medicine, and ends up cleaning toilets. Mueller-Stahl plays the character with a quiet dignity, and next to Williams is the clear highlight of the movie.

This movie represents a wonderful testimony to the importance of hope in helping people see themselves through what must seem to be impossible situations. Although fictional, it is an important movie for those with an interest in the events of this era.

7/10