Yentl at the George Eastman Museum

Barbra Streisand purchased the story rights ten years before she was able to convince Hollywood to make this film, eventually becoming the director, co-writer, co-producer, and star. In 1904 Poland, Yentl wishes to become a religious scholar, though that’s exclusively the realm of men. She disguises herself as a boy and takes her late brother’s name to study Talmudic Law. As Anshel, she befriends Avigdor (Mandy Patinkin), who is engaged to Hadass (Amy Irving). When Hadass’s family rejects the engagement, Avigdor convinces Anshel/Yentl as his best friend to marry her instead. Yentl won an Oscar for Best Original Score, and Streisand was the first woman to win Best Director at the Golden Globes.