Yentl poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Barbra Streisand, Mandy Patinkin, Amy Irving, Nehemiah Persoff, Steven Hill ... see more see more... , Alan Corduner , Ruth Goring , David de Keyser , Robbie Barnett , Lynda Barron , Danny Brainin , Teddy Kempner , Jack Lynn , Doreen Mantle , Miriam Margolyes , Ian Sears , Bernard Spear , Anna Tzelniker , Kerry Shale , Peter Whitman , Frank Baker , Gary Brown

Barbra Streisand's directorial debut, Yentl, is a musical adaptation of a story by the beloved Jewish writer Isaac Bashevis Singer. Yentl (Streisand) is a young woman who wants nothing more than to st... read more read more...udy religious scripture. She is denied that possibility because she is a woman. She moves, passes herself off as a male named Anshel, and then begins her studies. She becomes close to fellow student Avigdor (Mandy Patinkin), eventually falling in love with him, although she can not reveal her true self as she would then be expelled. Avigdor is in love with Hadass (Amy Irving), but religious law forbids him from marrying her. Avigdor attempts to fix Anshel up with Hadass, leading to Hadass falling in love with Anshel. Yentl received four Academy Award nominations, including two Best Song nods. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Flixster Users

73% liked it

7,444 ratings

Critics

73% liked it

15 critics

PG, 2 hr. 14 min.

Directed by: Barbra Streisand

Release Date: November 18, 1983

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: February 3, 2009

Get It:

Stats: 489 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Barbra Streisand in Yentl Amy Irving in Yentl Amy Irving & Barbra Streisand in Yentl Barbra Streisand in Yentl Mandy Patinkin & Barbra Streisand in Yentl Mandy Patinkin, Amy Irving & Barbra Streisand in Yentl Yentl Yentl
Upload a Photo | View All Yentl Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (489)

  • merlynsprankling
    July 30, 2009
    merlynsprankling
    This is La Streisand's show from opening to end credits. If you love Barbara, you'll love this flick, especially when she sings 'Papa, Can You Hear Me?' with full emotive expression. This film is her long-cherished adaptation of Isaac Basheviis Singer's short story, 'Yentl, The ... read moreYeshiva Boy.' As well as directing and starring, she produced, and she is the only person who gets to sing, despite the presence of renowned musical star Patinkin.

    Yentl (Streisand) is a young woman who wants nothing more than to study the Talmud, something forbidden to women. When her father dies, she cuts off her hair and convinces a Jewish school that she is a man so she can satisfy her hunger for knowledge. Things get complicated, however, when she becomes close to fellow student Avigdor (Mandy Patinkin), eventually falling in love with him, although she can not reveal her true self as she would then be expelled. Avigdor is in love with Hadass (Amy Irving), but religious law forbids him from marrying her.

    Granted, this flick is not everyone's cup of tea, and many of my Flixster friends have avoided to watch it. Yet, looking at the other side of a coin, this story of a woman who yearns to study, who lives in a culture that says study is only for men then disguises herself as a man in order to get that education is a story of a strong woman who breaks the gender roles of her time, and a tangled love story. What was typically the male role has been blurred and practically obliterated as well as captures the essence of the Jewish woman's eternal struggle. It describes a woman's search for freedom and her discovery not only of love but of herself. My dear Barbra captures the character beautifully, the songs and the expression in her eyes and voice displaying clearly the feelings of a woman struggling for knowledge and love but torn between her desire to learn and the tradition of her religion.

    As expected, the music and songs in Yentl received four Academy Award nominations, including two Best Songs. While David Watkin's photography is evocatively poetic, the film's pacing is overly reverential. Still, Streisand's voice very much remains her trademark.
  • johnattridge
    February 14, 2008
    johnattridge
    'Yentl' is a middle-ground musical, one that covers all the conventions necessary, that is full of heart and soul, but despite sticking so carefully to formula doesn't make the cut into brilliance, and only just remains memorable with the audience. Barbara Streisand isn't as conv... read moreincing as we would like, especially as a young boy, but delivers a performance with great effort and true devotion to the material, which she produced, co-wrote and directed. The film's storyline is the typical follow-your-heart and dreams which is so common to musicals, but it maintains some orginality in the serious, personal attitude it takes to the protagonists problem. We feel for Yentl, and want her to succeed - thanks in particular to some operatic and astounding songs from Streisand. The film is too long, and often melodramatic, but it's a well made musical that has it's heart in the right place, and the ending ensures it doesn't fall into soppy romance. Worth a look, especially if you love musicals, but it's ambition unfortunately exceeds the final execution.
  • ileo
    December 25, 2007
    ileo
    Great movie! Love this!
  • PinkMinkPrincess
    June 6, 2011
    PinkMinkPrincess
    "Papa Can You Hear Me?"~ Yentl, great Movie.She was in a position to choose the best at the time, & she chose Movies that touched her
  • moviegirl50
    March 11, 2009
    moviegirl50
    Barbra is superb as usual--this is a very original and interesting story...written, produced, directed and starred in by this amazing and talented woman. On "My 5 Star Music Movies" list. DVD.
  • insanenutball
    February 1, 2008
    insanenutball
    the whole movie can be best summed up in the song 'papa can you hear me?' its a brilliant performance by Babs...and im not usually a fan of hers...but this is awesome acting and singing!!...
  • gms1yygy
    January 2, 2008
    gms1yygy
    She may have been too old for the part, but her voice and vision were not. Good story, movie very well done, and, if you enjoy Barbra's voice (who with ears doesn't?), great music.
  • lelandp13
    June 28, 2007
    lelandp13
    Was a decent Babs musical drama thing. Pappa can you hear me? yes he can... and he wants you to stop!!
  • elikapeka982003
    February 26, 2007
    elikapeka982003
    Mandy Patinkin is a REALLY good actor, and everything he's feeling just shows through his eyes in this movie! Wonderful film.
  • ekoons1
    February 15, 2007
    ekoons1
    This movie's okay. I thinkFiddler on the Roof is the better film (when it comes to musicals about Eastern European Jews).

View All Yentl Reviews

Critic Reviews

Renee Schonfeld
December 30, 2010
Renee Schonfeld, Common Sense Media

Romantic folk tale retold with music and classic Streisand. Full Review

Jordan Hiller
October 27, 2009
Jordan Hiller, Bangitout.com

While the movie is on target in terms of noble intent, so much about Yentl is self defeating, and the legendary ego of Streisand can safely be deemed the culprit. Full Review

Christian Toto
April 21, 2009
Christian Toto, What Would Toto Watch?

Yentl is all about, who else? Miss Streisand. But her vast talents turn a gender-bending fable into a winner. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
September 23, 2008
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Oy! Full Review

Emanuel Levy
July 13, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Directed by and starring Streisant, this is a charming gender-bending fable, too bad the music is so undistinguished. Full Review

Rich Cline
June 19, 2004
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall

Surprisingly powerful.

Bob Bloom
March 14, 2004
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

Streisand knows her way in front of and behind the camera, but does she have to hog it all? Why cast the magnificent Mandy Patinkin and not let him sing?

James Sanford
July 29, 2002
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette

"perhaps Streisand's finest hour, on all fronts"

June 20, 2008
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • She's the Man
    She's the Man (33%)
  • Micki + Maude
    Micki + Maude (67%)
  • Victor Victoria
    Victor Victoria (75%)
  • Fiddler on the Roof
    Fiddler on the Roof (50%)

More Movies like Yentl

Facts

Submit a Fact | View All
    • Yentl/Anshel: Nothing's Impossible.
Submit a Fact | View All

Yentl : Watch Free on TV

Yentl Trivia

  • She played a jewish boy and also made the soundtrack for the movie, the movie is Yentl who is the actress?  Answer »
  • Barbra Streisand made her directorial debut on what film  Answer »
  • In which movie did Barbra Streisand play a young lady, who so desparately wants to attend religous training, she dresses and poses as a man?  Answer »
  • This movie musical features the songs "This Is One Of Those Moments", "The Way He Makes Me Feel", and "Tomorrow Night".  Answer »
More Yentl Trivia

Movie Quizzes

Create a Quiz |

All Quizzes

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All Yentl Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add Yentl to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?