Mädchen in Uniform Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Mädchen in Uniform Blu-ray Movie Review

A stirring drama. A film Nazi's attempted to ban.

Mädchen in Uniform (translation: Girls in Uniform) is a 1931 drama exploring homosexuality. The feature was based on the play “Then and Now” by Christa Winsloe. The feature-film was produced by Carl Froelich (Magda, It Was a Gay Ballnight) and Friedrich Pflughaupt (When the Cock Crows, Magda). The filmmaking explores a subject which was uncommon during the the time-period (and which resulted in Nazi's attempting to destroy prints of the film.)

Manuela von Meinhardis (Hertha Thiele) is a young girl who is enrolled to attend an all-girl boarding school. Upon arrival at the school, Manuela begins to witness the extreme approaches of the headmistress, Mother Fräulein von Nordeck zur Nidden (Emilia Unda). The girls are all subject to some rather extreme rules and actions from the strict headmistress.

As Manuela attends classes with her encouraging teacher, the kindhearted Governess Fräulein von Bernburg (Dorothea Wieck), Manuela begins to have feelings for her teacher that she never knew existed inside her before. What are these feelings? The story delves into a deeper connection – one of feelings of romance.

The production is impressive on a number of levels. The remarkable art direction by Fritz Maurischat (Martin Luther, Love's Awakening) and Friedrich Winckler-Tannenberg (Die Nacht der Königin Isabeau, Der Mann im Hintergrund) gives the filmmaking a strong production backdrop that is commendable throughout the film. There is a sense of high artistry behind the entire experience.

One of the most compelling elements of the filmmaking in Mädchen in Uniform is the striking black and white cinematography by Reimar Kuntze (The Rebel, The Emperor's Waltz) and Franz Weihmayr (Request Concert, A Summer You Will Never Forget). The visuals are compelling and manage to make the storytelling feel complex. There is a sense of dramatic urgency to the storytelling that the visuals in the film help reflect.

Leontine Sagan: A Feminist Icon

Edited by Oswald Hafenrichter (The Third Man, Danger Route), Mädchen in Uniform is a film that is delicately paced. The rhythm of the film is woven together effectively. There are no scenes which are out of place in the final cut. Mädchen in Uniform manages to be more effective as a result of the tight editing by Hafenrichter.

The music score composed by Hanson Milde-Meissner (The Four Companions, Ripening Youth) was another fantastic component of the film. The score heightened the drama and the severity of the rule under the strict headmistress. The exploration of young love and lesbianism was also emphasized by Hanson Milde-Meissner's score.

The screenplay by Christa Winsloe (Young Girls in Trouble, Muchachas de Uniforme) and Friedrich Dammann (Happy Go Lovely, Ballerina) is one of the most essential elements. The film explores a tough subject-matter that was controversial for some audiences at the time of the release. Even so, audiences have responded to the film as a exploration of homosexuality and the role it can play in society. There is a compelling narrative to the feature as it explores some difficult questions about human nature.

Directed by Leontine Sagan (Men of Tomorrow, Showtime), Mädchen in Uniform is the effort of an early female pioneer of filmmaking. The director brings her own distinctive style and voice to the production. Sagan had no easy task in portraying homosexuality in the feature-film given the circumstances of the production. This was an impressive effort by the director and the filmmaking feels organic throughout. There is a genuine filmmaking voice behind the production. It makes Mädchen in Uniform all the more compelling.

Mädchen in Uniform Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, Mädchen in Uniform is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in an aspect ratio of 1.19:1 full frame. This is a rather impressive looking presentation of the feature-film. While it is not as robust as a new 4K scan, I ultimately found the presentation to be highly pleasing with a good degree of detail and a naturally filmic style that suits the material perfectly. The scan does have occasional brightness fluctuations (during some scenes) but for the most part the video still seems good given the age of the materials. Watching the black-and-white cinematographic storytelling unfold is a true joy to experience in high-definition.

Mädchen in Uniform Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in German uncompressed PCM 2.0 16 bit with English subtitles. The audio is far less robust and impressive than the video- encode. The track has a sometimes irritating audible hiss which can be heard throughout the entire presentation of the film. The audio track was a little lacking (and not as crisp or clear as expected). While dialogue is easy to understand throughout the track, the edges sound a bit rough and coarse. The subtitle quality is excellent throughout the entire film (and remains free of any egregious spelling or grammatical errors).

Mädchen in Uniform Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary by Film Historian Jenni Olson

Mädchen in Uniform Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Mädchen in Uniform is an impressive production. The 1931 film explores the role of homosexuality in women. The social drama is an important work of art. As a drama about lesbianism produced during a time of less societal acceptance, the storytelling is remarkably nuanced. Many individuals involved in the production were Jewish and ended up dying inside concentration camps. The Nazi party attempted to ban the film and burn prints of it. Now, thanks to Kino Lorber, the film is available in an impressive Blu-ray edition available for all to see. Recommended.