Wim Wenders, the renowned German filmmaker, has decided to withdraw his 1975 motion picture, Wrong Move, from public availability due to a controversial scene involving a topless child actor who was only 13 during the filming.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Wenders announced, “We have instructed our streaming, television, and distribution partners to cease making this film accessible to the public.”
This decision follows remarks made by actress Nastassja Kinski, now 65, who revealed in an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung last month that she had spent over 15 years trying to persuade Wenders to alter the film.
During the German film awards last Friday, Wenders acknowledged that while he would approach such scenes differently today, Wrong Move reflects the context of its time. He emphasized that any retrospective editing would require a more extensive dialogue within the film community.
His statements drew criticism from various quarters in German media. Filmmaker and Babylon Berlin actor Julius Feldmeier publicly addressed Wenders in an open letter, asserting that the responsibility to rectify this issue rests solely with him.
In a subsequent statement on the website of his foundation, Wenders expressed regret to Kinski and confirmed that the non-profit Wim Wenders Foundation would remove the film from all distribution platforms. “As the last remaining individual directly accountable for Wrong Move, I recognize that Nastassja Kinski should have received better protection at that time,” he stated. “I apologize to you, Nastassja, unreservedly, without any conditions.”
At 80 years old, Wenders is regarded as one of the most significant German directors of the postwar era, with a filmography that includes acclaimed works such as Wings of Desire, Paris, Texas, Buena Vista Social Club, and Perfect Days.
Kinski, the daughter of the late actor Klaus Kinski, made her film debut in Wrong Move, portraying a mute teenage acrobat. She later collaborated with Wenders again in the 1984 film Paris, Texas and has appeared in over 60 films across Europe and the United States.
In her interview with Süddeutsche, Kinski reflected on her experience with Wrong Move, stating, “That was my first film, he was my first director, and he didn’t protect me. Even at 13, I sensed that what was happening was not acceptable.”
Kinski has previously campaigned successfully against a television film directed by Wolfgang Petersen that featured her nude at the age of 15. Her lawyer informed Der Spiegel that they had reached an agreement regarding the film’s distribution with the broadcaster NDR.
