The cultural wars have a new front. Director Wim Wenders has withdrawn his 1975 film 'Wrong Move' from circulation. The reason: a scene featuring a 14-year-old actress topless. The decision, announced late Tuesday, has ignited a fierce debate. Critics call it erasure. Supporters call it accountability.
Let's look at the mechanics. Wenders, a titan of New German Cinema, is not known for bowing to pressure. So why now? The film features Nastassja Kinski, then a teenager, in a brief nude scene. Kinski has not complained. But the #MeToo era has shifted the goalposts. Wenders acted preemptively. He said he was 'deeply uncomfortable' with the scene. He called it a 'mistake of the past.'
This is a big move. It sends a signal to the industry. Any film with underage nudity is now radioactive. Streaming platforms are watching. For example, Amazon Prime Video recently added 'Blazing Saddles' but with a trigger warning. Netflix dropped 'Gone with the Wind' for a time. The trend is clear: edit or remove.
But here's the rub. 'Wrong Move' is part of a trilogy. It's a canonical work. Wenders is effectively suppressing his own art. Where does that leave film history? Archivists are worried. Museums are worried. They fear a domino effect. One director's mea culpa could become a purge.
Inside the industry, the response is split. One veteran producer told me: 'This is madness. We're judging 1975 by 2024 standards. That way lies the bonfire.' Another, younger filmmaker, said: 'It's about time. We need to stop protecting predatory imagery.'
Politically, this is a gift to the right. They already see it as evidence of 'woke' overreach. Expect culture warriors to weaponise it. They will say Wenders is a victim of liberal bullies. They will miss the point. He made the decision himself.
What happens next? The film will now disappear from festivals. From streaming services. From the discussion. Wenders has set a precedent. Other directors will be asked: 'What about your film? What about that shot?'
This is not just about one film. It is about the memory of cinema. How do we preserve our cultural history while evolving our morals? There is no easy answer. But the debate is now raging. And Wenders just threw a match on the tinder.
More as it develops.
