Mädchen in Uniform

Leontine Sagan''s Madchen 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 Madchen 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.>

Vorwort
Barbara Mennel's BFI Film Classic considers Mädchen in Uniform as an explosive expression of lesbian sexuality and an indictment of Germany's authoritarian regime.

Autorentext
Barbara Mennel is a Professor of Film Studies and German Studies at the University of Florida, USA. She is the author of Su Friedrich (2023) and Women at Work in Twenty-First-Century European Cinema (2019).

Klappentext

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.

Inhalt

Acknowledgments
Notes about Titles
Introduction 1. Staging the Third Sex

2. Sagan Directs a Hit
3. International Success and Censorship Battles
4. The Nazi Film Industry and Routes of Exile
5. Remakes, Rediscoveries and Remixes
   Conclusion
   Notes
   Bibliography
   Credits