This is a true departure for Barbra Streisand which fans like me will love. Billed as a comedy, Up the Sandbox deals with some very serious issues in a surreal way. This film marked the first time that Streisand actually produced a film. Unusual in the way it meshes reality with fantasy --- in fact, it isn't always easy to tell the difference. Streisand gives a poignant, realistic and understated performance. I feel this is her best work as an actress. She is quite believable as a New York housewife. One could view this film as one of the first mainstream films which deals with the internal issues of abortion and feminist concerns. There is much good to be found in this adult film, but I feel that is ultimately must be viewed as failure, but certainly an interesting one coming from one of the most important entertainers of the 20th Century. The film flounders on its stance toward many of the issues presented. This might have been intentional, but by the film's end I had the feeling the the makers of the film were just confused about how to present the ideas within the context of story. One of the film's most memorable and bizarre scenes features a fantasy featuring Fidel Castro revealing that he is really a she. So absurd and strange to see Streisand in this scene that there is a certain level of comic shock value. This strange sequence is ruined with an odd line which was meant to get a laugh, but instead smacks of homophobia. When Castro reveals he is really a woman Streisand's character responds, "You're not a woman! You're a dyke!" Seems strange that Streisand would have gone with that line given her (and this film's) strong liberal stance --- however, this movie was made close to 30 years ago. I guess that has to be kept in mind. History shows us that the sexual revolution caused much confusion for everyone. Perhaps this unusual little movie offers us a glimpse of that confusion. Well worth viewing -- particularly if you love Streisand. By the way, this film features some brilliant cinematography.
Review of Up the Sandbox
