Review of Yentl (1983) by Scott R — 24 Jan 2019

It's a good story, but I gave it 3 stars because it was rather too feminist. There's the "coming out" scene where Anschel reveals his true identity to Avigdor. Avigdor has the appropriate 1905 reaction of anger, fear, disgust, and confusion. But then he calms down and listens with understanding.

That's where it becomes unbelievable. Any other man in 1905 Poland would have killed Yentl/ had the community kill Yentl, with the Rabbi's blessing/ beaten her to a bloody pulp, and then kick her out/ or just kick her out. At best she could've been imprisoned.

Instead Yentl and Avigdor tenderly confess each other's love for each other. When Avigdor considers marriage with her, assuming she'll end her studies, Yentl disagrees. He asks "Why? What do you want?", Yentl answers "More.".

That "More." is not appropriate nor meaningful. It's some kind of modern-day feminist cliché placed in the middle of a tragic storm. C'mon! Wedding vows have been exchanged, man secrets have been revealed, people's hearts are breaking and expanding, sexual desire is smoldering. And Yentl says More? What does that even mean?

The bottom line is Yentl kept in a secret that could have had severe consequences. Imagine, what if Yentl was NOT a pretty woman? What if she in fact was quite masculine, instead of boyish? What if Avigdor had not wanted her? What if Anschel had been just rejected at seminar for being homosexual, or too effeminate?

Streisand's singing is GREAT, though. And as a period piece, quite authentic.