by Quendrith Johnson

A typical response from actress Sonja Kinski,  Klaus Kinski's granddaughter and Nastassja Kinski's daughter, goes like this: "Study acting? Yeah, I study acting. With Karen Austin, but what does that matter? You won't know who she is." 

By turns brash and adorable, the younger Kinski, 27, was born in Geneva, but grew up mostly in Italy. Italian is her first language, and she moved to LA at age six.

Legally named Sonja Moussa, daughter of Egyptian producer Ibrahim Moussa, known for his association with Fellini, and Nastassja Kinski, she changed to Kinski “a long time ago. It’s my stage name.”

Her body language on-screen is eerily similar to her mother circa the early 80’s, when Nastassja lit up films as a new breed of ingenue, a strangely innocent seductress. Through Roman Polanski’s Tess (1979), cult classic Cat People (1982), and Wim Wenders’ Paris, Texas (1984), Sonja’s mother defined herself as a distinct acting presence without the aid of German legend Klaus Kinski.

“I don't feel like it's a ‘double-edged sword’ at all,” of having a famous mother. “We are just two very different people, with very different circumstances. I watched her films. Also, when I was little, I didn't even look at her like an actress. As I got older, I saw it more. I love Tess. Paris, Texas, it's my favorite.”

With a couple films to Sonja’s credit, All God’s Children Can Dance (2008) and Dark Hearts (2012) before this, she seems world weary about the business. Yes, she gets advice mainly from her mother. 

“I see all colors of her. Yeah I totally trust her.”

What about her half-sister Kenya Jones, Nastassja’s daughter with Quincy Jones, also half-sister of Rashida Jones? Or Aunt Pola, Natassja’s half-sister who wrote a scathing expose about Klaus entitled “Kindermud” earlier this year?

That’s where the conversation about family comes to a screeching halt. 

“I don’t want to go off topic.” She is not upset, just reveals she never met Klaus Kinski and has no interest in discussing anybody’s private life.

Ironically, "Some conversations are never meant to be heard" is the one-liner on the poster for Sonja’s new film. 

Written, directed and produced by J.R. Hughto, this indie is an audio odyssey into the private lives of a couple. Kinski plays the spoiler.

Or, in the words of the synposis-makers, Hughto has created a visual pastiche where "a very singular voyeur (Brian McGuire) finds his engagement in jeopardy when his fiancée (Nina Millin) discovers his secret audio recordings of their lovemaking.  Then, an enigmatic young woman (Sonja Kinski) enters both of their lives and begins a strange and surprising seduction."

A diamond in the rough, the wide-eyed charismatic former fashion model can be seen in Diamond on Vinyl on VOD, Dec. 1, 2013, with limited art-house theatrical release in New York (12/7), Boston (12/8) and Los Angeles (12/10).

Her take on this film? “It kind of gives some people relief to hear things like (in the movie). That's why I am attracted to things like this. We are all weird people, and it’s normal... it makes me feel like I'm okay - a lot of us live in the world really uncomfortable, self-judging, it’s really all good.

DIAMOND ON VINYL

Starring Sonja Kinski

USA, 94 min, Color, HD, English

Directed, Written, and Produced by J.R. Hughto

Cast: Sonja Kinski, Brian McGuire, and a very capable Nina Millin

Opens in New York at Anthology Film Archives, Dec. 7; Boston at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, Dec. 8; and in Los Angeles at Cinefamily, Dec. 10. VOD can be purchased, more info via diamondonvinyl.net.

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