Nastassja Kinski speaks out about nude scene at age 13 in Wim Wenders film

At that time, Wenders' lawyer told the newspaper that his client had offered to invite "Frau Kinski einzuladen und Zugang zu Film-Events und -Festivals mit persönlicher Begegnung zwischen den beiden zu verschaffen."

Wenders, who was honored with the German Film Academy's Honorary Award at the ceremony, addressed the controversy directly from the stage. "Das würde ich heute nie mehr so machen," he said of the nude scene.

A director's public reckoning

The director, known for acclaimed works such as 'Paris, Texas' and 'Perfect Days', reflected on the changed cultural landscape. "Ich weiß heute mehr, viel mehr. Es gibt andere Sensibilitäten, wir leben in einer völlig anderen Welt als vor 50 Jahren," he stated.

Wenders posed a series of questions to the audience of filmmakers, asking how the industry should handle its cinematic heritage. "Wie geht man mit Filmerbe um?" he asked, adding that the question concerns everyone in the room.

He specifically questioned whether a scene should be cut if it causes pain to an actress "die ich sehr verehrt habe und verehre." The director admitted he feels isolated in grappling with this dilemma. "Und ich bin auch ratlos," he said.

Wenders emphasized that any decision to edit the film would set a far-reaching precedent. "Ich möchte es nicht alleine tragen," he told the audience, urging a collective discussion, particularly with younger people.

A call for industry-wide debate

The director also noted that he cannot blame his younger self, describing the film as a product of its time. In 2024, he had described the scene as appearing "künstlerisch durchaus zwingend" within the context of the New German Cinema movement and the 1970s.

Kinski's early career also included another controversial role: at age 15, she appeared undressed in Wolfgang Petersen's 1977 television crime drama 'Reifezeugnis'.

The German Film Academy honored Wenders with a standing ovation at the Berlin gala. Academy president Florian Gallenberger described his body of work as "grenzenlos und gleichzeitig so unverwechselbar."

Stars including Campino, Patti Smith, Cate Blanchett and Nick Cave paid tribute to the director in a video message. Wenders has now asked the Academy to facilitate a formal discussion on the ethical questions surrounding retrospective changes to films.