“In equal parts a landmark of queer cinema, a groundbreaking lesbian love story, and a cogent antifascist statement. Made by women who intimately understood and delighted in women, Mädchen in Uniform is a reminder, now as ever, that if enough of us stand up for each other, we can all be safe, together.” – Amanda Lee Koe

A vital landmark in the history of queer cinema, Mädchen in Uniform (a.k.a. Girls in Uniform) is a remarkably brave and honest film about nascent love between women at a boarding school for girls. Vulnerable and quiet, Manuela von Meinhardis (Hertha Thiele) struggles to adjust to the stern discipline of the heavily-regimented institution. In time, she gains confidence through a friendship with one of her teachers (Dorothea Wieck). But no relationship between women, no matter how chaste, is to be permitted, and under the constant threat of punishment or expulsion, Manuela desperately tries to keep hope and love alive. Beyond its acclaim as a groundbreaking work in LGBTQ culture, Mädchen in Uniform has also been hailed as a timeless fable of the struggle of the innocent against the totalitarian forces of oppression—especially poignant since it was produced in Germany amidst the rise of the Nazi Party.

There are absolutely NO MEN in Mädchen in Uniform, which also happens to be the case for the film that follows it, The Duke of Burgundy! Buy tickets to both for a sapphic double feature without a drop of testosterone.

This film is screening as part of Arkadin’s month-long celebration of PRIDE, showcasing a wide array of queer classics, cult favorites, and underseen gems.

Arkadin does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. However, we encourage researching titles to determine if a screening may contain content that could be upsetting to you. Please feel free to contact us for guidance on specific films. Information about content can also be found on Common Sense Media, IMDB and DoesTheDogDie.com, as well as through general internet searches.