History Film / Yentl

* BittersweetEnding: In the book the film was based upon, the marriage between Avigdor and Hadass was held in a way that was customary for a virgin - banquet for the poor, the canopy, musicians, the jester, and son on. The only thing lacking was joy. But as a consolation for the joyless wedding, the boy from the marriage was named Anshel.

* BittersweetEnding: In the book the film was based upon, the marriage between Avigdor and Hadass was held in a way that was customary for a virgin - banquet for the poor, the canopy, musicians, the jester, and son on. The only thing lacking was joy. But as a consolation for the joyless wedding, the boy form the marriage was named Anshel.

* TwelfthNightAdventure: The film was set during a time when women were not to become educated.

* TranslationConvention: English stands in for Yiddish. Appropriate, since the original story was written in English before being translated back into Yiddish.

** Justified. Yentl's disguise is pretty crappy (much worse than the equivalent in Tootsie or Mrs. Doubtfire for example.) The miracle is that anyone thought she was a man, not that a straight man was attracted to her. It more makes you wonder about Avigdor's fiancee.

* SuppressedMammaries: Yentl binds herself down in order to pass as a man.

* MeaningfulEcho: There are two: "Nothing's impossible!", first uttered to the [[SweetPollyOliver titular character]] by her study partner Avigdor after he asks her/him to marry his ex-fiancee, later uttered by her when Avigdor almost leaves town after she refuses the favor. The other is "God will understand. I'm not so sure about the neighbors," first said by Yentl's father when asked why he is closing the windows if God will understand that his teaching her Talmudic law, which was forbidden to women at the time, is not with ill intent. It is said again by her to Avigdor's ex-fiancee (now her legal wife) in the same context.
* SuppressedMammaries: Yentl binds herself down in order to pass as a man.

Since Hadass is nervous about the arrangement, still attached to Avigdor and and in no more hurry to consummate the marriage than Yentl is, things settle down for a bit. However, when the three of them are together, Yentl watches Avigdor staring longingly at Hadass and starts to realize that he's too deeply attached to her to ever reciprocate what Yentl feels for him. Meanwhile, inspired by Yentl's wit and brains, the innocent Hadass starts to express an interest in academic study, which Yentl, recognizing the thirst, is all too glad to indulge. What she didn't intend was for Hadass to start to love her because of it, and when Hadass starts to come on to her, Yentl realizes she can't keep up the charade. She reveals the truth to Avigdor, who is initially furious, then accepting, and even admits he was hiding some feelings for her too. Avigdor and Hadass get back together and Yentl leaves for America where she might have a chance at perusing her opportunities more openly.

* AllLoveIsUnrequited: Both Yentil for Avigdor and Avigdor for Hadass (though she loves him, they're prevented from consumating it).

* DifferentForGirls

* IronicEcho: There are two: "Nothing's impossible!", first uttered to the [[SweetPollyOliver titular character]] by her study partner Avigdor after he asks her/him to marry his ex-fiancee, later uttered by her when Avigdor almost leaves town after she refuses the favor. The other is "God will understand. I'm not so sure about the neighbors," first said by Yentl's father when asked why he is closing the windows if God will understand that his teaching her Talmudic law, which was forbidden to women at the time, is not with ill intent. It is said again by her to Avigdor's ex-fiancee (now her legal wife) in the same context.

The script was based on a 1968 play written by Leah Napolin which was itself based on a short story from the early 1960s by Isaac Bashevis Singer. Singer ultimately panned the movie production, but it became a box office hit. The movie won an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for Best Original Score; the movie won a Best Picture Golden Globe in the musical/comedy category and Barbra Streisand became the first woman to win a Best Director Golden Globe Award for the film. Amy Irving, who played Hadass, has the rare distinction of being nominated for both the Best Supporting Actress Oscar as well as the UsefulNotes/GoldenRaspberryAward for Worst Supporting Actress. (The Razzies also nominated Barbra for Worst ''Actor'' and the movie for Worst Score, which is either a sign that they're meant to be tongue in cheek or a sign that [[LoveItOrHateIt some people are deeply divided about its merits]].)

BarbraStreisand directed, co-wrote, co-produced, and starred in this 1983 musical drama film, adapted from a 1975 play of the same name (based in turn off the short story "Yentl the Yeshiva Boy" by Isaac Bashevis Singer), about a Jewish girl in Poland who becomes a WholesomeCrossdresser so she can receive an education. The movie is set in the early 20th Century and was partially filmed in Prague. As the lead character, Streisand got to belt out several memorable songs.

* IncrediblyLongNote: BarbraStreisand's final number ([[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt_jjHAQoJU Papa Can You Hear Me/A Piece of Sky]]); her last note clocks in at over 20 seconds. Babs in general is famous for these.

BarbraStreisand directed, co-wrote, co-produced, and starred in this 1983 musical drama film, adapted from a 1975 play of the same name (probably based in turn off the short story "Yentl the Yeshiva Boy" by Isaac Bashevis Singer), about a Jewish girl in Poland who becomes a WholesomeCrossdresser so she can receive an education. The movie is set in the early 20th Century and was partially filmed in Prague. As the lead character, Streisand got to belt out several memorable songs.

BarbraStreisand directed, co-wrote, co-produced, and starred in this 1983 musical drama film, adapted from a 1975 play of the same name, about a Jewish girl in Poland who becomes a WholesomeCrossdresser so she can receive an education. The movie is set in the early 20th Century and was partially filmed in Prague. As the lead character, Streisand got to belt out several memorable songs.

BarbraStreisand directed, co-wrote, co-produced, and starred in this 1983 musical drama film, [[{{Adaptation}} adapted from]] a 1975 play of the same name, about a Jewish girl in Poland who becomes a WholesomeCrossdresser so she can receive an education. The movie is set in the early 20th Century and was partially filmed in Prague. As the lead character, Streisand got to belt out several memorable songs.

[[quoteright:215:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/215px-Yentl_poster_4663.jpg]]

BarbraStreisand directed, co-wrote, co-produced, and starred in this 1983 [[{{Adaptation}} film]] about a Jewish girl in Poland who becomes a WholesomeCrossdresser so she can receive an education. The movie is set in the early 20th Century and was partially filmed in Prague. As the lead character, Streisand got to belt out several memorable songs.

The script was based on a 1968 play written by Leah Napolin which was itself based on a short story from the early 1960s by Isaac Bashevis Singer. Singer ultimately panned the movie production, but it became a box office hit. The movie won an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for Best Original Score; the movie won a Best Picture Golden Globe in the musical/comedy category and Barbra Streisand became the first woman to win a Best Director Golden Globe Award for the film. Amy Irving, who played Hadass, has the rare distinction of being nominated for both the Best Supporting Actress Oscar as well as the UsefulNotes/GoldenRaspberryAward for Worst Supporting Actress - only the latter of which she "won". (The Razzies also nominated Barbra for Worst ''Actor'' and the movie for Worst Score, which is either a sign that they're meant to be tongue in cheek or a sign that [[LoveItOrHateIt some people are deeply divided about its merits]].)

The script was based on a 1968 play written by Leah Napolin which was itself based on a short story from the early 1960s by Isaac Bashevis Singer. Singer ultimately panned the movie production, but it became a box office hit. The movie won an AcademyAward for Best Original Score; the movie won a Best Picture Golden Globe in the musical/comedy category and Barbra Streisand became the first woman to win a Best Director Golden Globe Award for the film. Amy Irving, who played Hadass, has the rare distinction of being nominated for both the Best Supporting Actress Oscar as well as the UsefulNotes/GoldenRaspberryAward for Worst Supporting Actress - only the latter of which she "won". (The Razzies also nominated Barbra for Worst ''Actor'' and the movie for Worst Score, which is either a sign that they're meant to be tongue in cheek or a sign that [[LoveItOrHateIt some people are deeply divided about its merits]].)

* DawsonCasting: BarbraStreisand was 40 at the time of filming. In the original short story by I.B. Singer, Yentl seems to be younger than 20, although Streisand made the character 28 years old in the movie. Interesting in that the plot revolves around the main character [[SweetPollyOliver disguising herself as a boy to study in a yeshiva]], which when done by a 40-year-old woman stretches the imagination a bit. Then again, so does Streisand's [[AmericanAccents Brooklyn accent]] in a movie set in Poland around the turn of the century. Well, Streisand does have some difficult singing to do; you couldn't really expect her to do it in a Polish accent.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Creator/MandyPatinkin has said that in initial talks about the film, his character was originally going to sing as well, but then they decided to keep all the songs as Yentl's InnerMonologue.

The script was based on a 1968 play written by Leah Napolin which was itself based on a short story from the early 1960s by Isaac Bashevis Singer. Singer ultimately panned the movie production, but it became a box office hit. The movie won an AcademyAward for Best Original Score; the movie won a Best Picture Golden Globe in the musical/comedy category and Barbra Streisand became the first woman to win a Best Director Golden Globe Award for the film. Amy Irving, who played Hadass, has the rare distinction of being nominated for both the Best Supporting Actress Oscar as well as the GoldenRaspberryAward for Worst Supporting Actress - only the latter of which she "won". (The Razzies also nominated Barbra for Worst ''Actor'' and the movie for Worst Score, which is either a sign that they're meant to be tongue in cheek or a sign that [[LoveItOrHateIt some people are deeply divided about its merits]].)