Mädchen in Uniform

Leontine Sagan's Mädchen in Uniform (1931) is a groundbreaking German film that defied established societal norms, showcasing the power of women, both behind and in front of the camera. Adapted from Christa Winsloe's lesbian play, the story follows Manuela, an orphan in a boarding school for impoverished Prussian nobility. When her love for a female teacher is discovered, the oppressive principal punishes her, leading to a desperate suicide attempt. Barbara Mennel's compelling study firmly establishes Mädchen in the Weimar cinema canon. Breaking away from the teleological and over-determined “Caligari to Hitler” approach that has dominated the field since its inception, Mennel examines the film on its own terms within its immediate historical moment. Although it was prohibited viewing for several years, having been banned by the Nazis for its lesbian subtext and anti-authoritarian message, she asserts its central role in articulating feminist film theory in the late 1970s. Analysing its themes of democracy versus tyranny, the collective versus the individual, and expressive desire versus repressive discipline, she underscores the film’s timeless impact, and why it continues to resonate with contemporary audiences.