A Jewish ghetto in the east of Europe, 1944. By coincidence, Jakob Heym eavesdrops on a German radio broadcast announcing the Soviet Army is making slow by steady progress towards central Europe. In order to keep his companion in misfortune, Mischa, from risking his life for a few potatoes, he tells him what he heard and announces that he is in possession of a radio - in the ghetto a crime punishable by death. It doesn't take long for word of Jakob's secret to spread - suddenly, there is new hope and something to live for - and so Jakob finds himself in the uncomforting position of having to come up with more and more stories.
Vlastimil Brodský
as Jakob Heym
Erwin Geschonneck
as Kowalski
Henry Hübchen
as Mischa
Blanche Kommerell
as Rose Frankfurter
Manuela Simon
as Lina
Zsuzsa Gordon
as Mrs. Frankfurter
Armin Mueller-Stahl
as Roman Schlamm
Friedrich Richter
as Dr. Kirschbaum
Margit Bara
as Josefa
Reimar Johannes Baur
as Herschel Schlamm
Dezső Garas
as Frankfurter
Hermann Beyer
as Wachhabender
