Yentl (1983)

A very different type of musical/drama. If you watch unbiased, I think you will find it has a little something for everyone. The film has beautiful direction, wonderful performances, lovely music, some sly humor, and is truly inspirational.

Barbra Streisand had wanted to make this film since 1968, but everyone in the industry told her she was crazy. In 1979, she was still determined to make the film, even if the studio's weren't. She was turned down by every motion picture company at least twice, until finally in the early eighties, MGM/UA picked up the project. Made on a then-above average budget of about $14 million, YENTL was released to mostly positive reviews and eventually grossed a surprisingly strong $50 million in the US alone and did twice as well around the world. The only disappointment is that Streisand was snubbed by Oscar.

Fmovies: "Yentl" as a very impressive film. Watching it it is hard to believe that it was made by a first time feature film director.

People hate this film because Barbra is in it. She is wonderful. I get tired of hearing people say that "Barbra was too old" for the role. Well she doesn't play "Yentl" that was from the short story. She plays Yentl in her 30's. HEr father from the book is even aged by 20 years.

The story of this film is that the main character has a thirst for learning. After her father's death she disguises herself as a man so she continue her studies in a time where women's higher education was forbidden.

Yentl then falls in love with a man who unknown to him that his new best friend happens to be a woman.

My only problem with this film is that it is a little long but it is never boring. In my opinion if this film was directed by a man we would still be singing the films praises today.

I think Barbra Streisand is one of the most talented performers ever. Great singer, good actress, director, etc. So I have no personal vendetta against her whatsoever. And those comments about her looks are unforgivable. I find her extremely attractive and fascinating to look at. Plus, I wish those people who condemn her looks would post pictures of themselves so we could see how beautiful they are. Anyway, enough rambling. I have viewed Yentl about four times and quite frankly do not care for it. Beautifully photographed and overall well acted but awkward. Streisand never looks/acts like a boy. She looks like a girl with a hat on. The songs all sound the same and are dull and unmelodic (if that's a word). And, is Yentl from Brooklyn? She talks like it. Just sayin'. I keep thinking that just maybe I am going to like this movie each time I watch it but so far, no cigar. Again, it is beautiful to look at, but I just don't get it. Not my favorite Streisand film.

Yentl fmovies. Excellent, excellent, excellent. Barbra Streisand is a master at work. I saw the movie last night and I was blown away, I enjoyed Barbra's other movie, The Mirror has Two Faces just as much. Barbra Streisand just won herself a new fan. Keep on keeping on girl! This movie is the same age as I, 23. And it is as much enjoyable today as I would think it was then. I am from South Africa and we don't get to see a lot of old movies, and I really enjoyed this one, I think it is a master piece. Barbra Streisand is a true diva, she got it all, the voice, the looks, the acting talent, the sense of humor, I like watching her in movies even more than some young actresses of our time. Make us proud.

An excellent film, it has a wonderful complexity in the characters' personalities and relationships that maintain a level of enjoyable tension and curiosity throughout the film for the viewer. Excellent performances given by Mandy Patinkin, Amy Irving and Barbra Streisand. Great songs throughout. Not a brainless ha-ha movie. It is a thinking person's film, in the same vein (in my opinion) as Fiddler On The Roof. Well directed by Streisand. And I'm a Republican! I have been waiting it seems for ages to buy the DVD (pirated copies sold on eBay a few years ago for $45+), but it seems legitimate copies are now available with special features to enjoy.

Yentl is a young Jewish woman who shall be married, but she is too curious, she wants to know more and she wants to learn all about the Talmud, which is forbidden to women by this time. So she dresses herself like a young man and goes to the yeshiva, always frightened to be discovered, and there she meets Avigdor, a brilliant student, who is meant to be her mentor, and she fells in love with him. He is in love with a beautiful Jewish girl (Amy Irving) but he cannot marry her, because his brother died of suicide. So he asks Angel (Barbra Streisand) to marry her, and she does....

It's a real Barbra Streisand masterpiece, I think no one could have done this picture more sensual and beautiful like she did. A story, that never should be forgotten, of a woman that fights against the male world, wants to be more than the role that was meant to be hers. Brilliant songs, perfectly written by Michael Legrand, brilliant directed and also the sets are chosen very well, the picture of a Jewish world like it was in former times is set originally. Also Mandy Patinkin and Amy Irving are brilliant actors who can show their different faces in this movie. Thios movie is a MUST for everybody.