Mädchen in Uniform

Leontine Sagan's Mädchen in Uniform (1931) is a groundbreaking German film that showcases women's agency and desire 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 she declares her love with her female teacher, the oppressive principal punishes her, leading to a desperate suicide attempt.

Barbara Mennel's compelling study firmly establishes Mädchen in the Weimar c...