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.
Acting
Williams restrains his chaos into devastating stillness.
Writing
The lie that metastasizes—brilliant dramatic irony throughout.
Director
Peter Kassovitz
Robin Williams
Jakob Heym
Liev Schreiber
Mischa
Hannah Taylor-Gordon
Lina Kronstein
Alan Arkin
Max Frankfurter
Michael Jeter
Avron
Bob Balaban
Kowalsky
Armin Mueller-Stahl
Prof. Dr. Kirschbaum
Éva Igó
Lina's Mother
Mark Margolis
Fajngold
Mathieu Kassovitz
Herschel
Justus von Dohnányi
Preuss
Kathleen Gati
Hooker
Zofia Saretok
Neighbor
Nina Siemaszko
Rosa Frankfurter
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Williams accepted zero salary, only SAG minimum, to get this passion project made after Spielberg passed on it.
Remake of a 1975 East German Oscar nominee—this Hollywood version was buried by Life is Beautiful's shadow that same year.
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