Where to Watch
Checking availability in your country…
Cast
Movie Info & Details
Release Year1974
Runtime1h 40m
LanguageGerman
CertificationNR
GenresHistory, Drama, Comedy
Votes29
DirectorFrank Beyer
WritersFrank Beyer, Jurek Becker
TypeFeature Film
Rating6.9 out of 10
Cast10 credited
Also Known AsJacob the Liar
About Jacob the Liar
A Jewish ghetto in the east of Europe, 1944. By coincidence, Jakob Heym eavesdrops on a German radio broadcast announcing the Soviet Army is making slow by steady progress towards central Europe. In order to keep his companion in misfortune, Mischa, from risking his life for a few potatoes, he tells him what he heard and announces that he is in possession of a radio - in the ghetto a crime punishable by death. It doesn't take long for word of Jakob's secret to spread - suddenly, there is new hope and something to live for - and so Jakob finds himself in the uncomforting position of having to come up with more and more stories.
Directed by Frank Beyer, Jacob the Liar leans on a strong ensemble — Vlastimil Brodský, Erwin Geschonneck, Henry Hübchen — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about history titles of 1974.
Read More on the Blog
You Might Also Like
More like Jacob the Liar, picked from what people are watching
6.7Jakob the Liar
1999 6.7
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.
Jakob the Liar
1999
6.8The Survivor
2022 6.8
Harry Haft is a boxer who fought fellow prisoners in the concentration camps to survive. Haunted by the memories and his guilt, he attempts to use high-profile fights against boxing legends like Rocky Marciano as a way to find his first love again.
The Survivor
2022
6.5Rhinegold
2022 6.5
Xatar’s way from the ghetto to the top of the charts is as dramatic as it is daring. From the hell of an Iraqi jail, Giwar Hajabi emigrated to Germany as a young boy with his family in the mid-1980s and has to start right at the bottom. There are opportunities, but far more obstacles. Giwar’s rise from petty criminal to major dealer is swift. Until one shipment goes missing. In order to clear his debts with the cartel, he plans a legendary gold heist. But just as everything goes wrong, another door opens for Giwar thanks to his passion for music …
Rhinegold
2022
7.0Resistance
2020 7.0
The story of mime Marcel Marceau as he works with a group of Jewish boy scouts and the French Resistance to save the lives of ten thousand orphans during World War II.
Resistance
2020
6.7A Call to Spy
2020 6.7
The story of Vera Atkins, a crafty spy recruiter, and two of the first women she selects for Churchill's "secret army": Virginia Hall, a daring American undaunted by a disability and Noor Inayat Khan, a pacifist. These civilian women form an unlikely sisterhood while entangled in dangerous missions to turn the tide of the war.
A Call to Spy
2020
6.6The Last Word
2017 6.6
A retired businesswoman – who tries to control everything around her – decides to write her own obituary. A young journalist takes up the task of finding out the truth, and the result is a life-altering friendship.
The Last Word
2017
User Reviews
6.9
Community rating
Loading reviews…
From the Blog
All Posts
News
Lanterns OTT Release Date: DC’s Green Lantern Series Hits JioHotstar Aug 17
DC’s Green Lantern series Lanterns arrives on JioHotstar in India on August 17, 2026. Here is where to watch it, who is in it, and why it is one of the year’s biggest superhero shows.
News
Michael OTT Release Date: The Michael Jackson Biopic Streams August 29
The Michael Jackson biopic arrives on JioHotstar on August 29, 2026. Here is where to watch it, what you need, and why it is one of the year’s biggest music films.
News
Jana Nayagan OTT Release Date: When Vijay’s Film Streams on ZEE5
Thalapathy Vijay’s Jana Nayagan is headed to ZEE5 for its digital premiere. Here is the latest on its OTT release date and where to watch, updated as news is confirmed.