Maedchen in Uniform

Amy T.

11/12/04

CIN 304

MAEDCHEN IN UNIFORM

Maedchen in Uniform ( Sagan, 1932, 80') is a film that was specifically design to represent a group of women living in a patriarchal society and the conflicts they encounter by simply being their naturally, nurturing selves. One major conflict involves the deep relationship that develops between a female teacher and her female student in an all girl boarding school that is operated like a strict military camp. It is heavily suggested that this relationship is a romantic one, but there are no solid evidence that it is. I believe that Sagan had design the film this way so that the idea of lesbianism would not be so aggressive towards the audience that they will not be willing to sit through the entire film.

Should the teacher have been a man and the student remains a female, I believe that this film would not have had the same effect it did on the viewers as it did the way it was presented. The gender between the two people should not have made a difference because, in general, it is wrong to have a romantic relationship between a teacher and a student who is still under the teacher's guidance. Given this conflict alone, I believe that the Sagan wanted to take it to the next level and show that with the suggestion of lesbianism, these women are like any other women who are also caring and nurturing. I believe she was trying to introduce a new idea of lesbianism where the women are not heavily masculine.

First, there is the setting of a strict military like boarding school where the students, all females, are craving the love and affection that they are missing from their family. One particular student, Manuela von Meinhardis, had just recently joined the school after the recent death of her mother. She is particularly vulnerable to the love and care that is provided by the only caring teacher in the school, Fraulein von Bernburg.

Fraulein von Bernburg is a very beautiful young teacher who is constantly at odds with her elders because she does see the need to punish her group of girls. She believes that the students need to be shown compassion and care; not just as a teacher but as a friend.

It is between these two women that a heavily suggested romantic relationship developed. The reason why I say "heavily suggested" is because I still believe that Fraulein von Bergen was only trying to be sympathetic with the new girl, Manuela, because her mother had just died. The extra attention that was given to this student leads the student to develop a crush on the teacher.

During a scene in the film where Fraulein von Bergen gives Manuela one of her own personal chemise, because the student did not have a decent one, Manuela confesses that she likes Fraulein von Bergen so much that she cries because she can not spend the time she would like to spend with the teacher. This is where Fraulein von Bergen suggested that these feelings are not appropriate. That Manuela should not like her so strongly.

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