Gerlind Institute for Cultural Studies

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Jacob the Liar

1h 40min | Director Frank Beyer | 1974 (East Germany) | German with English, Spanish, French, Hebrew subtitles | NTSC

A Jewish ghetto in central 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 uncomfortable position of having to come up with more and more stories.