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This documentary, an installment in a series on directors produced by the American
Film Institute, focuses on a woman who has only directed three films. But Barbra
Streisand is an undeniable superstar, and hearing her and others discuss her work
on Yentl, The Prince of Tides, and The Mirror Has Two Faces
is undeniably interesting. Appearing to discuss their experiences working on Streisand's
films are Nick Nolte, Lauren Bacall, Brenda Vaccaro, and longtime musical collaborator
Marvin Hamlisch. Interspersed with clips from her films are interview segments
with Streisand. Seated on a living room couch, she speaks at some length, and
despite her reputation for perfectionism and control, her comments seem extemporaneous.
She talks about the problems she faced when she decided to direct, noting how
difficult it was to get a budget approved for her first directorial effort, Yentl,
and discusses how criticism of that film made her never want to direct again.
She also talks about what made her choose other material to direct, and in some
charmingly convoluted commentary, she describes specific thought processes that
inspired images she's put on the screen. This is a very positive tribute to Streisand,
referring to her at one point as a "true Renaissance woman," and fans of her varied
career will no doubt find it an enjoyable look at how she approaches working in
film. --Robert J. McNamara
