Yentl

Friday night, Sharon and I watched Yentl. Sharon read Barbara Streisand's biography My Name is Barbara and we have been working our way through a number of Streisand's films. We watched A Star is Born in December, The Way We Were in January, Funny Girl and What's Up, Doc? in March.

Yentl is a 1983 romantic musical drama film directed, co-written, co-produced by, and starring American entertainer Barbra Streisand. It is based on Isaac Bashevis Singer's short story "Yentl the Yeshiva Boy".

The film tells the story of an Ashkenazi Jewish woman [Streisand as Yentl] in Poland in 1904 who decides to disguise herself as a man so that she can receive an education in Talmudic law. Mandy Patinkin and Amy Irving co-star. Yentl's relationship with Avigdor [Patinkin], a fellow student, adds a layer of complexity to the story.

The film received the Academy Award for Best Original Song Score and the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy and Best Director for Streisand. She was the first woman to win Best Director at the Golden Globes.

Yentl is not without its flaws. Some critics argue that the film's portrayal of Streisand as a man is unconvincing. Additionally, the pacing can feel uneven at times, with the middle section dragging slightly. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the movie and continue to be impressed by Streisand's acting and singing ability.