The “Tatort” episode “Maturity Certificate” is still one of the most successful episodes in the crime series. The film was made in 1977 on behalf of NDR. It was directed by Wolfgang Petersen, who was still unknown at the time, and Nastassja Kinski played one of the main roles. The daughter of acting legend Klaus Kinski was only 15 years old at the time of filming – but she was still topless in front of the camera for some scenes. The actress now wants to have these nude scenes banned.
“Nastassja Kinski was actually unaccompanied on set when the scenes were filmed,” her lawyer told “Spiegel”. A legally valid consent as a minor is therefore excluded. Now Kinski himself has commented on the matter.
“My point is that I was 15 years old and when you’re 15 you need protection in a film. I didn’t have that. My whole life I felt that these scenes should have been filmed differently. Nobody was there to protect me . 25 million people saw this. And these pictures were shown countless times. Teenagers should not be exposed like this,” she writes on Instagram.
Kinski also criticizes how the film is advertised on the NDR website. Christian Granderath, NDR TV film boss, is quoted there as saying: “‘Maturity certificate’ with Nastassja Kinski was a sexual initiation for many young males in the 1970s. That’s another reason why this ‘crime scene’ has become a legend.” The quote first appeared in spring 2017 – on the film’s 40th anniversary. But it is still online.
The broadcaster has added the following comment from Granderath. “Saying what was is just as important as saying what is – the sentence is from March 2017 and is seven years old. The quote represents a historical classification of the crime scene in the 1970s and not an assessment. It can be found in the archives many statements that would probably be worded differently today. Since then
For Kinski, these words shouldn’t change her demand: she wants the film to only be broadcast without her nude scenes. A spokeswoman for NDR said: “Since Ms. Kinski’s request, NDR has checked whether the film is scheduled to be broadcast on NDR or other state broadcasters and on which platforms it is currently offered. It will be broadcast on ARD until further notice “We are in discussions with licensees about removing the film from streaming platforms until the matter is clarified. A legal review is taking place at NDR and an assessment of possible consequences.”
Nastassja Kinski finds conciliatory words in her posting for Wolfgang Petersen. “A great director. That doesn’t change the fact that the unclothed scenes hurt me and the broadcaster NDR and the director could have shot it differently. Wolfgang, I think in your heart you understand that.” Petersen himself can no longer comment on the case: he died of pancreatic cancer in 2022.