Jakob the Liar
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Jakob Heym: Hitler goes to a fortune-teller and asks, "When will I die?" And the fortune-teller replies, "On a Jewish holiday." Hitler then asks, "How do you know that?" And she replies, "Any day you die will be a Jewish holiday." |
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Starring Robin Wiliams, Jakob the Liar tells the tale of a Jewish shopkeeper in the ghettos during WWII. When he's caught out late one night, Jakob is sent to the Kommandant for being smart with the guard. While there, he hears news of advancing Russian troops. On the way back he finds a girl who managed to escape from a transport train, and begins to look after her. From there he finds himself risking life, limb, and more than a few lies as he tries to keep the spirits of his friends up, and give them the courage to face the next day in hope that the Russians will free them from Nazi occupation.
- Bittersweet Ending / Downer Ending: Depending on your interpretation, The Russians arrive to save the Jews at the end, but it could very well just be another lie from Jakob, who is also the narrator.
- Consummate Liar
- Defiant to the End
- Heroic Sacrifice Jakob ultimately dies to give his friends hope.
- Hope Bringer: A Deconstruction. Jakob's status as the Hope Bringer is based on a massive lie, and if the Germans learn of it, all the Jews could suffer for it.
- Interrupted Suicide Jakob walks in just in time to keep Kowalski from hanging himself.
- Nazi Germany
- Sadistic Choice