This disc is a real triumph by the BFI.
'Madchen in Uniform' is one of the key cultural moments in the short period of liberation and creativity that spanned the Weimar Republic years in Germany. The film is both a bold venture into the nuances of Lesbian love, and a robust statement against the evils of authoritarianism.
The entire cast is female and the lively solidarity of the boarding-school girls gives the film an inspiring energy.
The architecture of the school itself is also one of the star turns, especially the soaring angles of the central staircase.
The black-and-white print is high quality, given that the film was made in 1931, and the play of light and shadow enhances the narrative throughout.
The disc contains some excellent extras, all of which reveal fascinating aspects of the film, its genesis and its reception. The BFI have also added four short films that make for hilarious and sobering viewing in terms of attitudes towards women in the mid-20th century.
However, the real star of this brilliant disc is the wonderful main feature itself.