Jakob der Lügner / Jacob the Liar
Film Screening

Jakob der Lügner / Jacob the Liar

Oct 20, 2025, 10:30 PM

The story of a humble man who invents fictional radio reports about the advancing Russian army to give a sense of hope to his fellow Jews.

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Directed by Frank Beyer (1974)
German; English subtitles. 101 min.

Set in a Nazi-occupied Polish ghetto during World War II, Jacob the Liar tells the story of Jakob Heym, a humble man who invents fictional radio reports about the advancing Russian army to give a sense of hope to his fellow Jews. As the ghetto teeters on despair, Jacob’s lies become a quiet act of resistance and compassion. Adapted from Jurek Becker’s 1969 novel and the only East German film ever nominated for an Academy Award, this poignant drama balances humor and heartbreak in its powerful meditation on survival, dignity, and the human need for hope.

This screening is presented as part of the Autumn 2025 Filmbar Series, “Masterworks of German Film–Oscar Contenders Then and Now.” Spanning multiple decades, this collection reflects the breadth of German cinema.