VpNHRMpxKbQ
Plot Summary
As Barbra Streisand’s directorial debut, and a vehicle to showcase her considerable talents, she chose this story of a Jewish girl whose father indulges her desire to study the Talmud, but whose society and religion forbid it. He’s sure God would not mind, but he’s “not so sure about the neighbors”. When her papa dies, Yentl disguises herself as a boy and applies to study at the yeshiva in the city. Yentl becomes Anshel and all is well as long as s/he can avoid skinny dipping. S/he makes a friend, who introduces her to his fiancée, and life becomes truly complicated.
The fiancee’s father forbids the marriage, breaking everybody’s heart, and fixing on Anshel as his son-in-law. Feeling trapped, Anshel agrees and the story proceeds to the inevitable reveal. We are aware of the patriarchal oppression of women that echoes today from efforts to pass the Equal Rights Amendment to the Me Too movement, but at least there are now women rabbis and ministers.
The happy ending is a bit contrived, but at least feasible. Barbra Streisand gets to sing, which is lovely, and the all-star cast and good script make for a pleasant glimpse at a historical time and place.
Commentary by Cicely d’Autremont
Quotes
Avigdor: "I can’t believe this. I’m arguing with a woman!"
Yentl: "It’s not the first time."
Tailor: "A tailor’s like a doctor. What’s to be ashamed?"
Anshel: "Why is it people who want the truth never believe it when they hear it?"
Bookseller: "You’re in the wrong place, storybooks for women are over there."
Yentl: "I’d like this one please."
Bookseller: "Sacred books are for men."
Yentl: "Why?"
Bookseller: "It’s the law."
Yentl: "Where is it written?"
Bookseller: "It doesn’t have to be written somewhere. It’s the law."
Trivia
Harold Goldblatt was originally cast as the rabbi. He collapsed on set, and died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. Barbra Streisand was shocked to learn he had stated his age as twenty years younger than he was in order to get the part.
Steven Spielberg referred to “Yentl” as “the best directorial debut since ‘Citizen Kane’ (1941).”
Barbra Streisand wanted Mandy Patinkin so badly that when he refused she invited him to her home to discuss changes he wanted in the script. When she agreed, so did he.
Isaac Bashevis Singer, who wrote the original story, hated the film. He disagreed with it’s being a musical; disliked Streisand’s interpretation of the character of Yentl as not scholarly; and hated the “kitschy” ending. His comment was that having her go to America, “probably to work in a sweatshop twelve hours per day … was done without any kinship to Yentl’s character, her ideals, her sacrifice, her great passion for spiritual achievement.”
Sources
IMDb
Rotten Tomatoes
Review by Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun Times, December 9, 1983