Wim Wenders withdraws 1975 film featuring 13-year-old Nastassja Kinski topless

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German director Wim Wenders has withdrawn his 1975 film Wrong Move from all current forms of distribution and exhibition, following years of appeals from actress Nastassja Kinski, who appears topless in the film at age 13. The decision was announced Wednesday in a statement on the Wim Wenders Foundation's website, and confirmed by multiple news outlets including the BBC, Deutsche Welle, France 24, The Guardian, and the South China Morning Post.

Wenders, 80, said the film would no longer be publicly accessible via streaming services, television broadcasters, or distribution partners. The foundation, which owns the film, will seek a "broad dialogue" with German film institutions before any future release, and will only make the film available again after reaching "a mutually agreed solution, which will include Nastassja Kinski," according to the statement.

Coverage comparison

The decision was reported consistently across international media, with all five outlets covering the same core events: Kinski's public campaign, Wenders' apology, and the foundation's withdrawal of the film. The BBC emphasized the "appeals from Nastassja Kinski" as the catalyst, while Deutsche Welle framed the story within a wider industry debate about handling controversial films from the 20th century. France 24 noted the foundation's plan for dialogue, and The Guardian highlighted the film's significance in Kinski's career and Wenders' filmography. The South China Morning Post focused on the nude scene as the reason for the pull.

No outlet disputed the factual basis of the story, though Deutsche Welle described the dispute as "headline-grabbing," a characterization not echoed elsewhere. All sources attributed the decision to Kinski's campaign and public pressure, with her lawyer describing the move as "long overdue."

Key claims

• Wenders has withdrawn Wrong Move from distribution: All five sources confirm that the film is being pulled from all current distribution and exhibition channels, including streaming services and television broadcasters, as reported by the BBC and others.

• Kinski had sought changes for years: Multiple sources, including the BBC and Deutsche Welle, report that Kinski, now 65, had been trying to get Wenders to alter the film for 15 years. In an interview with the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, she said, "That was my first film, he was my first director and he didn't protect me."

• Wenders apologized unreservedly: In his statement, Wenders said, "As the only person responsible at the time for Wrong Move who is still here, I recognise that Nastassja Kinski should have been better protected back then. For that, I apologise to you, Nastassja, unreservedly, no ifs or buts," as quoted by the BBC, France 24, and others.

• The foundation will seek dialogue: The Wim Wenders Foundation announced it will seek a "broad dialogue" with German film institutions and will only make the film available again after reaching a consensus that includes Kinski, according to France 24 and the BBC.

• Kinski's lawyer welcomed the decision but called it "long overdue": Kinski's lawyer, Christian Schertz, told AFP that he "welcomed" the decision, but "also regret[s] that it has only happened as result of public pressure," as reported by the BBC.

Perspectives

Wim Wenders and the Wim Wenders Foundation: Wenders has apologized and taken responsibility, stating that the reactions of recent days have "sharpened" his understanding of the events. The foundation frames the withdrawal as part of a necessary societal debate on handling controversial film works from the 20th century.

Nastassja Kinski and her representatives: Kinski has campaigned for years for the film to be changed, expressing that she felt unprotected. Her lawyer welcomed the withdrawal but noted it came only after public pressure.

Industry and public discourse: Wenders' earlier comments at the German Film Awards, where he suggested the film was "a product of its age" and required broader discussion, drew criticism. German actor Julius Feldmeier wrote an open letter saying it was Wenders' "responsibility alone to set things right," as reported by The Guardian. The episode has fueled wider debate about how to handle films from earlier eras that may be seen as problematic today.

This article draws on reporting from the BBC, Deutsche Welle, France 24, The Guardian, and the South China Morning Post.