Written by Barbra Streisand
and Jack Rosenthal, story by Isaac Bashevis Singer based on the play by Leah
Napolin and Isaac Bashevis Singer. Directed by Barbra Streisand. Starring
Barbra Streisand, Mandy Patinkin and Amy Irving. USA, 1984.
In early 20th century
Poland, a Jewish girl goes undercover as a boy so she can study Talmud, which
is forbidden for women. Once in school, she falls in love with her male
roommate and his betrothed falls in love with her.
Barbra Streisand both
directed and stars in this one and while it’s not very convincing for a moment
that she’s either a teenager or could pass for a boy, if you just overlook that
the rest of it is pretty great, especially young Mandy Patinkin as her
roommate/love interest/best pal. The movie benefits from being a musical, so
whenever there needs to be an introspective moment, Babs can just belt it out
in song, which is a nice shorthand other dramas/romances don’t have. The
movie’s also incredibly well directed. I wish Streisand would direct more
movies.
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