Wim Wenders Withdraws ‘The Wrong Move’ Over Controversial Scene

German filmmaker Wim Wenders announced the withdrawal of his 1975 movie “The Wrong Move” due to a controversial scene featuring a then 13-year-old Nastassja Kinski. The decision follows Kinski’s request for the film to be reedited, as she expressed that Wenders did not protect her adequately during its making. In an interview with Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Kinski said, “That was my first film, he was my first director and he didn’t protect me.”

Wenders, known for acclaimed works like “Paris, Texas” and “Wings of Desire,” issued a public apology to Kinski. He acknowledged, “I recognize that Nastassja Kinski should have been better protected back then. For that, I apologize to you, Nastassja, unreservedly, no ifs and buts.”

“The Wrong Move” marked Kinski’s film debut. In the movie, she plays a mute teen acrobat and appears topless in one scene. Wenders decided to retract the film from all distribution platforms, including streaming and broadcast, pledging to keep it withdrawn until a solution is reached. His nonprofit organization, the Wim Wenders Foundation, holds the film’s rights.

Wenders stated his intention to engage in a dialogue involving Kinski, the German Film Academy, and other film entities. He stressed the importance of addressing controversial film works from the 20th century to foster new learning processes and inclusive perspectives within cinema.

During a speech at the German Film Awards, Wenders expressed his concerns about the potential implications of editing past films. He emphasized that such actions might establish a precedent affecting other filmmakers. Kinski, who went on to star in Wenders’ 1984 film “Paris, Texas,” has long spoken about her early experiences in the film industry. In a 1997 interview with W Magazine, she noted, “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.”

Representatives for Kinski did not provide immediate comments to The Associated Press regarding the situation. The decision by Wenders highlights ongoing discussions about how to handle sensitive content from past films.