Wim Wenders Pulls 1975 Movie Following Protest Over Teen Nudity

Oscar-winning German filmmaker Wim Wenders has announced he will prevent future access to his 1975 feature Wrong Move, complying with requests from actress Nastassja Kinski. The decision comes after Kinski, who was 13 when she was filmed topless in the movie, raised concerns about the scene.

Kinski had previously expressed her dissatisfaction to the German publication Sueddeutsche Zeitung, stating she had urged Wenders to alter the film for years. "That was my first film, he was my first director and he didn't protect me," she said.

In response to the controversy, Wenders acknowledged on Wednesday that the young actress "should have been better protected back then." He issued a direct apology: "For that, I apologise to you, Nastassja, unreservedly, no ifs and buts."

Kinski’s legal representative described the director’s action as "long overdue" in a statement to AFP.

In an Instagram post, Wenders confirmed that the film would be removed from "all current forms of distribution and exhibition." This directive instructs streaming platforms, television networks, and distribution partners to halt public access to the work. He noted that recent discourse had helped clarify his perspective on the historical context.

"The many reactions, comments, and conversations of recent days have played a significant role in further sharpening my understanding of the events of that time. For that, I am grateful," Wenders wrote. "Only an open and respectful exchange can lead us to reconsider positions and reassess responsibilities."

He emphasized the need for society to develop suitable methods for handling controversial 20th-century cinema, advocating for new learning processes and inclusive viewpoints. Wenders stated he would engage in a "broad dialogue" with film institutions and groups, promising that the film would only be made available again after a "mutually agreed solution" is reached with Kinski.

Kinski’s lawyer told AFP that while he "welcomed" the decision, he expressed regret that public pressure was required to bring about the change.

Wrong Move, which earned Wenders the Best Director award at the German Film Awards, features a sexualized sequence involving Kinski and a male co-star in his early thirties. During a lifetime achievement address at the German Film Awards on Friday, Wenders told the audience he was "struggling" with the decision to permanently excise the scene. He sought advice from younger filmmakers present on how to resolve the matter, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

Kinski, who later achieved international stardom in Wenders’ 1984 cult classic Paris, Texas and his 1993 film Faraway, So Close, also appeared nude in the 1976 film To the Devil a Daughter and the 1978 production Stay As You Are.

Reflecting on these early roles in 1997, Kinski revealed the emotional toll of her experiences. "If I had had somebody to protect me or if I had felt more secure about myself, I would not have accepted certain things. Nudity things. And inside it was just tearing me apart," she said.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-03 15:30:20 UTC