The Wim Wenders Foundation announced on Wednesday that it has withdrawn the 1975 film Wrong Move from circulation, pulling the movie from streaming platforms and television broadcasters. The decision follows years of public pressure from actress Nastassja Kinski, who has long decried a scene in the film featuring her as a 13-year-old.
A Director’s Apology and the Limits of Film History
The removal of Wrong Move, originally titled Falsche Bewegung, marks an unusual shift for a filmmaker known for maintaining a firm grip on his artistic legacy. Wim Wenders, the acclaimed director behind Paris, Texas and Wings of Desire, formally apologized to Kinski during the German Film Awards last Friday. Addressing the controversy, Wenders acknowledged that the production failed to protect its lead actress, who was making her film debut at the time.
“I recognise that Nastassja Kinski should have been better protected back then,” Wenders stated, according to the South China Morning Post. “For that, I apologise to you, Nastassja, unreservedly, no ifs and buts.”
The film features a scene in which Kinski, then 13, lies on a bed wearing only underwear while her adult co-star, Rüdiger Vogler, lies on top of her. In an interview with the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, Kinski reflected on the experience: “Although I didn’t know much at the age of 13, I could already tell that it wasn’t right,” The Hollywood Reporter notes.
The Legal and Ethical Pressure Campaign
cluster (priority): South China Morning Post
While the decision to pull the film appears to be a concession to Kinski’s long-standing requests, the path to this resolution was fraught with tension. Kinski’s legal representative, Christian Schertz, has been vocal in his criticism of the director. Schertz recently characterized Wenders’ public statements as an attempt to evade personal responsibility, indicating that a lawsuit remained a viable option if the film was not removed from distribution.
The Wim Wenders Foundation, which manages the rights to the director’s catalog, confirmed that the directive has been issued to all partners. “Streaming partners, television broadcasters and distribution partners will be instructed to cease public access to the film,” the nonprofit organization stated. This move effectively shelves a significant piece of Wenders’ early filmography, raising complex questions about the preservation of cinema versus the evolving ethical standards of the industry.
Wenders’ Struggle with the Weight of the Past
Director Wim Wenders withdraws 1975 film over actress's teen topless scene
Despite the apology, Wenders has expressed a lingering hesitation regarding the permanent alteration of his work. In his acceptance speech for a lifetime achievement award, the director questioned whether he possessed the moral right to rewrite historical artifacts. He compared the dilemma to Steven Spielberg’s 20th-anniversary reissue of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, where digital changes—such as replacing government agents’ firearms with walkie-talkies—were later deemed a mistake and reversed by the director.
“I can’t blame the 29-year-old young man I was then, 50 years ago, who made a film of his time; wanting, in a way, to capture the zeitgeist,” Wenders explained. He acknowledged that keeping the scene in the film continues to cause pain to Kinski, whom he described as someone “whom I deeply admired, and still do.”
For Kinski, the personal toll of the film has been a lifelong burden. She has stated, “That was my first film, he was my first director and he didn’t protect me.” The collaboration between the two, which famously continued years later on the 1984 Palme d’Or winner Paris, Texas and the 1993 film Faraway, So Close!, remains deeply overshadowed by the events of 1975.
What Comes Next for the Film and the Academy
cluster (priority): Springfield News-Sun
The removal of the film is not a re-edit; it is a total withdrawal. Wenders has not committed to releasing a modified version of the movie, leaving its future uncertain. Instead, he has turned to the German Film Academy, explicitly calling upon younger filmmakers to engage in a broader debate about how the industry should handle controversial works from the past.
As of June 2026, the industry is left to grapple with the precedent set by this withdrawal. For now, the distribution of Wrong Move has ceased, marking a definitive end to the public availability of the 1975 version. Whether this results in a permanent loss of the film or the beginning of a new conversation about accountability in European cinema depends on how the academy and the public respond to Wenders’ open invitation for discourse.
For residents of the Miami Valley region, it is worth noting that while these cultural developments unfold, local environmental agencies have issued an Air Quality Alert for Clark, Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, and Shelby counties, effective through midnight Thursday. The Springfield News-Sun reports that ozone levels may approach unhealthy standards, prompting calls for residents to reduce vehicle use and avoid gas-powered equipment during the alert period.
Jasmine Brooks curates coverage of film, music, and digital culture. She began her career as an arts columnist for The Evening Tribune and has since interviewed creatives across Hollywood, Seoul, and London. Her focus blends culture, diversity, and storytelling excellence.
