German film director Wim Wenders has withdrawn his 1975 film from distribution. «"Wrong move"» following an appeal from German actress Nastassja Kinski, who starred nude in a film when she was 13 years old.
In a statement published Wednesday on the Wim Wenders Foundation website, Wenders said: "The non-profit Wim Wenders Foundation, which holds the rights to the film, is withdrawing it from all existing forms of distribution and exhibition. Streaming services, broadcasters, and distribution partners will be instructed to cease public access to the film.".
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In a statement following the announcement, Kinski called Wenders' decision to pull the film "long overdue.".
Last month, Kinski told the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung that she had spent over a decade lobbying Wenders to cut a scene featuring her nudity from the film. In the scene, 13-year-old Kinski lies in bed, wearing only her underwear, when her 30-year-old co-star, Rüdiger Vogler, enters the room, undresses, and then lies on top of her in bed.
In his statement, Wenders also apologized to Kinski.
«"I admit that Nastassja Kinski should have been better protected back then. For that, I offer you my apologies, Nastassja, without reservation," he wrote.
Wenders also noted that the film industry should take part in a broader discussion about how to handle controversial material from cinema history.
«"Our society needs to find appropriate ways to engage with controversial 20th-century films and to consider new learning processes and inclusive approaches to cinema," he said. "As part of this important discussion, we will seek a broad dialogue—with the German Film Academy, the German Film Institute and Film Museum, other institutions dedicated to preserving film heritage, and intergenerational groups.".
Last week, Wenders received an honorary award for his contribution to cinema at the German Film Awards.
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