Jakob der Lügner
Jacob the Liar

Manuela Simon, Vlastimil Brodský
Jakob der Lügner | Jacob the Liar by Frank Beyer
DDR 1974, Perspektive Deutsches Kino
© Herbert Kroiss / DEFA-Stiftung

Erwin Geschonneck
Jakob der Lügner | Jacob the Liar by Frank Beyer
DDR 1974, Perspektive Deutsches Kino
© Herbert Kroiss / DEFA-Stiftung

Henry Huebchen
Jakob der Lügner | Jacob the Liar by Frank Beyer
DDR 1974, Perspektive Deutsches Kino
© Herbert Kroiss / DEFA-Stiftung
With
- Vlastimil Brodský (Jacob)
- Erwin Geschonneck (Kowalski)
- Henry Hübchen (Mischa)
- Blanche Kommerell (Rosa)
- Manuela Simon (Lina)
- Dezső Garas (Mr. Frankfurter)
- Zsuzsa Gordon (Mrs. Frankfurter)
- Friedrich Richter (Professor Kirschbaum)
- Magrit Bara (Josefa)
- Reimar Johannes Baur (Herschel Schtamm)
- Arnin Mueller Stahl (Roman Schtamm)
Crew
Director | Frank Beyer |
Cinematography | Günter Marczinkowsky |
Camera Assistant | Dietram Kleist |
Editing | Rita Hiller |
Music | Joachim Werzlau |
Sound | Horst Mathuschek, Gerhard Ribbeck |
Production Design | Alfred Hirschmeier |
Costumes | Joachim Dittrich |
Make-Up | Günter Hermstein, Inge Merten, Monika Mörke |
Assistant Directors | Harakd Fischer, Günter Hoffmann |
Dramaturgy | Gerd Gericke |
Location Managers | Werner Teichmann, Gerd Zimmermann |
Production Manager | Herbert Ehler |
Produced by
Deutscher Fernsehfunk DDR
DEFA-Studio für Spielfilme
Frank Beyer

The director (1932–2006) was one of the most internationally renowned DEFA filmmakers in East Germany. Resistance to fascism is a leitmotif of his work. After making several films, in 1966 he was subject to a long-term filmmaking ban. Jakob der Lügner, the first film he made following the ban, was the only DEFA feature film ever to be nominated for an Oscar. It also won a Silver Bear at the Berlinale. He was awarded the Berlinale Camera in 1990 and, a year later, was honoured for his lifetime achievement at the German Film Awards.
Filmography (selection)
1957 Zwei Mütter 1960 Fünf Patronenhülsen 1962 Königskinder · Nackt unter Wölfen 1963 Karbid und Sauerampfer 1966 Spur der Steine 1974 Jakob der Lügner (Jacob the Liar) 1977 Das Versteck 1982 Der Aufenthalt 1983 Bockshorn 1988 Der Bruch 1991 Der Verdacht 1995 Nikolaikirche 1997 Abgehauen
Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2023