| Director | Barbra Streisand |
|---|---|
| Budget | $12 million |
| Box office | $68.7 million |
Yentl Mendel is a woman living in an Ashkenazi shtetl named Yanev in Poland in 1904. Yentl's father, Reb Mendel (“Papa”), secretly instructs her in the Talmud despite the proscription of such study by women according to the custom of her community. Yentl refuses to be married off to a man.
After the death of her father, Yentl decides to cut her hair short, dress like a man, take her late brother's name, Anshel, and enter a Yeshiva, a Jewish religious school in Bychawa. There she befriends a fellow student, Avigdor, and meets his fiancée, Hadass Vishkower. Upon discovering that Avigdor lied about his brother's death (a suicide, not pneumonia or flu as Avigdor claimed), Hadass' family cancels the wedding over fears that Avigdor's family is tainted with insanity. Hadass' parents decide that she should marry "Anshel" instead, and Avigdor encourages "Anshel" to go ahead with the marriage, so Hadass can marry someone she knows rather than have a stranger for a husband. "Anshel" reluctantly marries Hadass so Avigdor will not leave town; the marriage remains unconsummated: "Anshel" claims it is a sin for a woman to give herself to a man while she loves another. "Anshel" starts to teach Hadass the Talmud. Meanwhile, Hadass develops romantic feelings for "Anshel", while Yentl herself is falling in love with Avigdor.
Yentl leaves for a trip to the city with Avigdor that will take him away from home for a few days. In their lodging in the city, Yentl finally reveals her true identity to Avigdor. At first, Avigdor does not believe his friend is a woman, but Yentl proves her womanhood by showing him her breasts. When a confused and frightened Avigdor asks her why she did not tell him, Yentl breaks down in his arms, showing she has revealed her real self to him out of love. Avigdor is stunned, but, after a moment, reciprocates the feeling and remarks how beautiful Yentl's features are. The two kiss, but, Avigdor breaks away suddenly, remembering Hadass. Yentl assures him their marriage is not valid. Avigdor suggests he and Yentl elope. Yentl realizes that she will not be able to continue her studies if she marries Avigdor, and that she wants more from life than to be a wife. Yentl and Avigdor part ways, knowing they will always care for each other. It is implied that Hadass and "Anshel"'s marriage is annulled, as it was never consummated. Avigdor returns to marry Hadass. In the following scene, the two are successfully reunited and reading a letter from Yentl, learning that she is going to a new place and will love them both always. Yentl leaves Europe on a boat bound for the United States, where she hopes to lead a life with more freedom. With a smile on her face, Yentl finishes her story by singing: "Papa, watch me fly."