Yentl (film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yentl |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Barbra Streisand |
| Produced by |
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| Screenplay by |
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| Music by |
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| Cinematography | David Watkin |
| Editing by | Terry Rawlings |
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| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Release date(s) | November 18, 1983 (United States) |
| Running time | 134 min (theatrical cut) 137 min (director's cut) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $12 million |
| Money made | $68.7 million |
Yentl is a 1983 American musical drama film. It is also a romantic story. The movie was directed, co-written, and co-produced by Barbra Streisand. She also stars in the film.
The story is based on "Yentl the Yeshiva Boy," a short story by Isaac Bashevis Singer. The film uses humor and music to tell its tale. It's about a Jewish girl in Poland. She decides to dress and live like a boy. This is so she can get an education in Talmudic Law. Girls were not allowed to study this in her community.
The film's music was created by Michel Legrand. The lyrics were written by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. Famous songs from the movie include "Papa, Can You Hear Me?" and "The Way He Makes Me Feel". Barbra Streisand sings both of these songs.
Yentl won an Academy Award for its music. It also won Golden Globe Awards for Best Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy. Barbra Streisand won Best Director, making her the first woman to win this award.
Contents
Story of Yentl's Journey
Yentl Mendel is a young woman living in a Jewish village in Poland in 1904. Her father, Rebbe Mendel, secretly teaches her the Talmud. This was against the rules for women in their community. Yentl does not want to get married. She wants to keep studying.
After her father dies, Yentl makes a big decision. She cuts her hair short and dresses like a man. She takes the name of her late brother, Anshel. Then, she goes to a Yeshiva, which is a Jewish religious school. There, she becomes friends with a student named Avigdor. She also meets Avigdor's fiancée, Hadass.
Hadass's family cancels her wedding to Avigdor. This happens because Avigdor's brother took his own life. They worry about his family. Hadass's parents then decide she should marry Anshel (Yentl in disguise). Avigdor encourages Anshel to marry Hadass. He wants Hadass to marry someone she knows. Anshel marries Hadass, but their marriage is not fully a marriage. Anshel tells Hadass it's wrong for a woman to be with a man she doesn't love. Anshel starts teaching Hadass the Talmud. Hadass begins to have feelings for Anshel. Meanwhile, Yentl (as Anshel) is falling in love with Avigdor.
Anshel and Avigdor go on a trip to the city. While there, Anshel finally tells Avigdor her true identity. Avigdor is shocked and confused. Yentl explains she told him because she loves him. They share a kiss. But Avigdor remembers Hadass. Yentl assures him their marriage is not real. Avigdor suggests they run away together. Yentl realizes that if she marries Avigdor, she won't be able to continue her studies. She wants more from life than just being a wife.
Yentl and Avigdor decide to go their separate ways. They know they will always care for each other. It is suggested that Hadass's marriage to Anshel is ended. Avigdor returns to marry Hadass. They read a letter from Yentl. She tells them she is going to a new place. She will always love them both. Yentl leaves Europe on a boat to the United States. She hopes to find a life with more freedom there. She sings, "Papa, watch me fly," with a smile.
Main Characters
- Barbra Streisand as Yentl Mendel
- Mandy Patinkin as Avigdor
- Amy Irving as Hadass Vishkower
- Nehemiah Persoff as Rebbe Mendel (Yentl's father)
- Steven Hill as Reb Alter Vishkower
- Allan Corduner as Shimmele
- David de Keyser as Rabbi Zalman
- Miriam Margolyes as Sarah
- Doreen Mantle as Mrs. Shaemen
- Lynda Baron as Peshe
- Kerry Shale as Yeshiva Student
Making the Film
Making the film Yentl was a very long and difficult process. It took more than ten years to get it made.
Barbra Streisand first read the story "Yentl: The Yeshiva Boy" in 1968. She wanted to make it into a movie right away. She got the rights to the story in 1969. At first, she was going to be the star.
Over the years, many people thought Streisand was too old to play Yentl. By 1976, Streisand herself thought she was too old for the part. So, she decided to direct the film instead. But studios were worried. They thought a new director like Streisand couldn't handle a big movie budget. Also, Streisand said studios thought the film was "too ethnic" and "not commercial."
In 1978, friends suggested making Yentl a musical. They hoped a musical starring Barbra Streisand would be more appealing to studios. Streisand even turned down offers of millions of dollars to perform elsewhere. She was determined to make Yentl.
To prove she could play a male character, Streisand disguised herself as a man. Her partner, Jon Peters, was fooled! This convinced him she could play the part. To help with her age, she changed Yentl's age in the story from 16 to 26.
Streisand was very dedicated to the project. She researched Judaism and studied the Torah. She even visited her father's grave. She noticed his tombstone was next to a man named Anshel. This was the name Yentl takes in the story. This made her even more determined to finish the film.
Finally, in 1979, Streisand made a deal with Orion Pictures. She would direct and star in Yentl. She worked hard on the script. She also traveled to Prague to find filming locations.
However, another big movie lost a lot of money. This made Orion Pictures cancel all films that cost more than $10 million. Yentl was priced at $14 million, so it was canceled again. The film was turned down many more times.
Fifteen years after she first thought of it, Yentl finally began filming. It started on April 14, 1982, in London. United Artists and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer agreed to make it. The budget was $14.5 million. Filming ended in October 1982. The film went a little over budget. Streisand paid the extra costs herself.
Film Music
The music album for the film was released by Columbia Records in 1983. It features all the songs from the movie.
Film Release and Success
Yentl was successful when it came out. It opened at number 5 at the US box office. It stayed in the top 10 for nine weeks. The film earned over $40 million in the US and Canada. Its budget was $12 million. Worldwide, it made $68.7 million. This made it one of the top 20 highest-grossing films of 1983.
Awards and Recognition
Yentl won an Academy Award in 1984 for Best Adaptation Score. This award went to Michel Legrand (music) and Alan and Marilyn Bergman (lyrics). Amy Irving was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. The film was also nominated for Best Art Direction.
Barbra Streisand made history by winning a Golden Globe Award for Best Director. She was the first woman to do so. Yentl also won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy. The film was nominated for four other Golden Globes.
Time magazine and the National Board of Review chose Yentl as one of the top ten films of 1983.
Even though Streisand won a Golden Globe, she was not nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director. This caused a lot of discussion.
The film is recognized by the American Film Institute in these lists:
- 2004: AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs:
- "Papa, Can You Hear Me?" – Nominated
- 2006: AFI's 100 Years...100 Cheers – Nominated
- 2006: AFI's Greatest Movie Musicals – Nominated
Important Ideas in Yentl
Yentl starts with a young woman living in a society that won't let her get an education. She is told she needs the "soul of a man" to learn. Her desire to learn is seen as something only men should have. Yentl doesn't want to live without learning. So, she leaves home and pretends to be a boy. This allows her to study like a Jewish man. By doing this, Yentl goes on a journey to discover who she really is. She challenges old ideas about what boys and girls should do.
Yentl's choice to go against what society expects is a big deal. It crosses religious boundaries, especially when she marries Hadass. Before this, Yentl only looked and acted like a man. But now, she lives as a man in a deeper way, as a husband. She takes on a role traditionally for men. This makes her question her own identity as a woman. She also develops a close, loving connection with Hadass.
In the original story, Yentl's choices lead to a life of sadness and dishonesty. She stays hidden in her disguise forever. But in Streisand's film, Yentl's choices are seen as good. Even though she makes difficult choices, like giving up her love for Avigdor, she finds she can follow her dreams. She learns about different kinds of love. She also gains a strong sense of who she is. At the end of the film, Yentl goes to America. She hopes to find new chances and discoveries there.
Throughout her time with Hadass and Avigdor, Yentl handles problems with kindness and respect. Her experiences help her grow. She doesn't just fit into what others expect. She becomes a "real woman" who has both strong and caring traits. In the end, her challenges don't stop her hope. She stays strong and brave. She dares to find new ways to define herself and new possibilities. She always wants to learn more.
Many people see Yentl as a role model for girls. She goes against the rules of her society to study the Torah. This was something only men were allowed to do. Also, even though she loves Avigdor, she is strong enough to leave him. She chooses a freer life in the United States instead.
New Opportunities in America
Streisand's film version of Yentl has special meaning as a Jewish-American film. In the original story, Yentl just keeps wandering. But in the film, Yentl moves to the United States. Viewers are led to believe that in America, she can have both her studies and be a woman. This idea shows a desire to move away from old Jewish traditions. It suggests that America can change old Jewish values.
Many Jewish immigrants who came to America found new ways of living. They often couldn't spend as much time studying religious texts as their ancestors. Their lives were more about being individuals and trying new things. The differences between the original story and the American film show a shift in how Jewish people saw themselves. It suggests America could offer new possibilities.
Relationships and Identity
Yentl explores the ideas of male and female roles. Characters develop feelings that might seem unusual for the time. Yentl only wants to be with her study partner, Avigdor. Her marriage to a woman is not fully a marriage and is sometimes shown in a funny way. When she reveals her true self to Avigdor, it shows her strong will.
The film questions if society's gender roles are fair. It suggests that the society Yentl lives in doesn't offer equal chances for happiness for everyone, especially women. Because of this, many see it as a film that supports women's rights.
See also
In Spanish: Yentl para niños
