Kehler's play was somewhat ahead of its time by emphasizing the significance of violent abuse in schools. Beating school children was still legal and common at the time, and some reviewers of the play didn't recognize Ulla's emotions and found her reactions to be unlikely.
Ole Walbom directed the story of Ullabella twice, first as a TV movie in 1958 and then again as a feature movie with a new cast (including star Gitte Henning in the title role) in 1961.