During World War II, an ordinary inhabitant of a ghetto fakes news about Allied offensives to inspire hope for other victims of the Nazi regime.During World War II, an ordinary inhabitant of a ghetto fakes news about Allied offensives to inspire hope for other victims of the Nazi regime.During World War II, an ordinary inhabitant of a ghetto fakes news about Allied offensives to inspire hope for other victims of the Nazi regime.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 3 nominations
Éva Igó
- Lina's Mother
- (as Eva Igo)
István Bálint
- Lina's Father
- (as Istvan Balint)
János Gosztonyi
- Samuel
- (as Janos Gosztonyi)
Ádám Rajhona
- The Whistler
- (as Adam Rajhona)
Péter Rudolf
- Roman
- (as Peter Rudolf)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAlthough thematically the film is very similar in tone and subject with Roberto Benigni's Life Is Beautiful (1997), it actually started production well before the release of the Italian film.
- GoofsThe movie is set in Poland (hence the Polish-languaged signs on buildings, eg Jakob's café), but 'Mischa' is a Russian name (a diminutive form of 'Mikhail'/'Mikal' ('Michael').
- Quotes
[first lines]
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."
- Crazy creditsSpecial thanks to the city and peoples of Piotrków, Poland, the city and peoples of Lódz, Poland and the city and peoples of Budapest, Hungary.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Siskel & Ebert: American Beauty/Blue Streak/For Love of the Game (1999)
- SoundtracksBeer Barrel Polka (Roll Out The Barrel)
Written by Lew Brown, Wladimir A. Timm (as Wladimir Timm), Jaromir Vejvoda & Vasek Zeman
Performed by The Andrews Sisters
Courtesy of MCA Records
By Arrangement with Universal Music Special Markets
Featured review
Worth a look for an underappreciated performance by Williams and some great supporting cast work
I won't repeat the plot as many other comments have taken care of that. Many of Robin Williams' performances have been Robin Williams playing a character -- there's a wink and a hint that he'll bust out with some shtick at any time. He (or the director, or both) contain that impulse to an impressive degree in this movie and do so without the excessive sincerity that Williams often substitutes for emotion in his other parts. (Good Will Hunting contains an overrated performance of this type.) Example: in the scene where he takes on the voices of Churchill, Stalin, and others, it's wholly within his character's desire to persuade the little girl (who's wonderfully played, by the way) that hope remains. I agree that some of the actors, notably Alan Arkin, aren't very good, but other, less-well-known ones support the movie well. In addition, I thought the production design, cinematography, and editing were thoughtful and well-done. And I liked the ending...
helpful•50
- sllanso
- Aug 14, 2000
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Details
Box office
- Budget
- $45,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $4,956,401
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $2,056,647
- Sep 26, 1999
- Gross worldwide
- $4,956,401
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