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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...