German filmmaker Wim Wenders has pulled his 1975 film Wrong Move from circulation after appeals from German actress Nastassja Kinski, who was filmed topless in the film when she was 13.
In a statement posted on the Wim Wenders Foundation website on Wednesday, Wenders said: “The non-profit Wim Wenders Foundation, which owns the film, is withdrawing it from all current forms of distribution and exhibition. Streaming services, television broadcasters and distribution partners will be instructed to cease public access to the film.”
Kinski described Wenders’ decision to pull the film as “long overdue” in a statement following the announcement.
Last month, Kinski told the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung that she has spent over a decade lobbying Wenders to cut her nude scene from the film. The scene features a 13-year-old Kinski in bed, only wearing underwear, when her 30-year-old co-star, Rüdiger Vogler, enters the room and undresses before joining her in bed and lying on top of her.
In his statement, Wenders also apologised to Kinski.
“I recognize that Nastassja Kinski should have been better protected back then. For that, I apologize to you, Nastassja, unreservedly, no ifs and buts,” he wrote.
Wenders also noted that the film industry must engage in a broader discussion about how to handle controversial material from film history.
“It is necessary for our society to find appropriate ways of dealing with controversial film works from the 20th Century and to face new learning processes and inclusive perspectives regarding cinema,” he said. “As part of this important debate, we will seek a broad dialogue – with the German Film Academy, the DFF – Deutsches Filminstitut & Filmmuseum, other film heritage institutions, and intergenerational groups.”
Wenders received the honorary career award last week at the German Film Awards.
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