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 Comedy Drama I wonder if Steven Speilberg will complain about this movie like he did about LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL. After all there is humour in this story about the holocaust. I guess in Mr. Speilberg's world no one laughed during the Second World War in Europe. The story of JAKOB, THE LIAR takes place in the Nazi occupied Poland ghetto, during World War II. A poor Jewish citizen of the ghetto, Jakob, played by Fate, unfortunately has plans for Jakob. When he is told that his news is boosting spirits and that no one has committed suicide since they heard of his radio. He has no choice but to continue with his news casts but since he really has no radio he has to make it up and he does so which offers much comic relief in the dark proceedings. His lies are giving everyone hope and bringing some humour back into the lives of the ghetto residents. Jakob has another secret, one that could cost a life. He is secretly hiding a child, a young girl. As in the film, LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL the child safety is the most important thing. There are no young children to be in either film because the Nazis took the children to the concentration camps first where of course they were killed. The safety of this child is utmost in Jakob's mind. He even makes plans with his friend for her well being if anything should happen to him. The inevitable happens and the Germans learn of a resistance hero and his radio, and so the search is on. What happens is a wonderful story of hope and sacrifice with a bitter swet ending. Many comparisons are going to be made with Life Is Beautiful because the basic premise is the same. Hope, love and sacrifice are in both these wonderful films. JAKOB, THE LIAR was actually made before the release of A BEAUTIFUL LIFE but was held back because of Robert Benigni's film being released first. It is also a remake of Jakob, der Lügner a German film from 1974. What is important about similar films is that they tell us a story in a fresh and original way but still can invoke images in our mind's eye. At the end it is hard not to compare the scene with the ending of A TALE OF TWO CITIES, which is powerful initself. Unlike what Speilberg thinks, I am sure that even in the darkest of times, humour, will and must flourish otherwise the human spirit could not flourish. For him to say that films like this insult the holocaust is a an idiotic notion. Humour was probably all they had because in that ability to laugh at times of the greatest peril is what allowed them and us to have hope in the future and in our survival. Robin Williams plays his role beautifully as a downtrodden man who has seen his wife executed and who only has a desire to survive to open his pancake and pastry store once again. He is surrounded by excellent performances by the likes of Alan Arkin, Bob Balaban and Armin Mueller-Stahl. I feel some of these men will be nominated for Oscars(c). All these actors balance humour and terror well. Probably the most important thing that I can say about this combination is that it felt like real life. Not scripted or stilted or forced but real like I was there. I highly recommend this film but then again I am a real sucker for these type of emotional films...it may be the female side of me showing....hey stop snickering. Really make an effort to go see this film when it is released. |
Starring: Robin Williams, Alan Arkin, Bob Balaban, Michael Jeter, Armin Mueller-Stahl Directed by Peter Kassovitz Written by Peter Kassovitz, Didier Decoin, Ron Hutchinson Produced by Marsha Garces Williams, Steven Haft Distributed by Columbia Tristar Pictures Rating USA... PG-13 for violence and disturbing images Rating Canada... PG for violence and disturbing images Read Another Review Of This Film Read Still Another Review Of This Film |
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vjm@metrocity.com
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