Rust's premiere: Memories of Halyna Hutchins and her vision

Rust's premiere: Memories of Halyna Hutchins and her vision

The premiere of the film Rust took place on Wednesday at the Camerimage Festival in Torun, Poland. This is a significant moment because this indie western three years after a tragic incident that took place during the filming in October 2021, finally sees the light of day. At that time, the camera woman Halyna Hutchins was fatally hit by a weapon held by Alec Baldwin. This weapon turned out to be invited with real balls, which led to a serious injury to director Joel Souza and the tragic death of Hutchins.

Since this incident there have been many legal disputes and public discussions about the circumstances. A New Mexico judge condemned the armor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed for negligent killing. Baldwin himself was spared an indictment for negligent killing because the public prosecutor's office had held back important evidence.

the premiere and the reactions

At the premiere, the feelings were mixed. While Souza explained that the decision to continue the filming was a difficult one, he emphasized how much he wanted to pay respect for the work of Hutchins, which he described as talented and ambitious. "It was extremely painful to live with responsibility every day, to create something that Halyna is worthy," said Souza.

The producers originally involved in the project will not benefit financially from the film. Instead, the husband of Hutchins, Matt, is managed as an executive producer, and he and her son Andros will benefit from the income. This was done in the context of a comparison after her death.

Some in the industry, especially among the camera people, criticized the fact that the film was shown. Emilia Mendieta Cordova, a close girlfriend of Hutchins, described the show as "very tasteless". It is not the right way to honor Hutchins' legacy by showing the film that cost her life.

Hutchins' family and the reactions

The family of Halyna Hutchins has also spoken loudly against the marketing of the film. In a statement, her mother, Olga Solovey, said that she had hoped for the premiere, but ultimately could not be present. Your pain will be reinforced by Baldwin's refusal to take responsibility. She felt reminded of the tragic by the incident in the film and the associated marketing and found that Baldwin had not taken on responsibility he should.

Melina Spadone, a representative of Rust Movie Productions, rejected them and emphasized that the decision to end rust was hit with the support of Hutchins' family and that their work should be honored.

The premiere of the film came at a time when the festival was criticized after the founder Marek Zydowicz had made sexist comments on the role of female camera venues. The festival organizers have promised to commemorate Hutchins with a moment of silence and honorable words, although the circumstances of their death and the associated tragedy are above everything.

Souza hopes that the spectators can see the film more as an artistic work instead of keeping the terrible events that led to its creation. "Yes, the human costs and the tragedy overshadow everything that is rightly important," he said. “I hope that people will be able to see it as what it is.”

In the middle of this complex emotional state, it remains to be seen how rust is taken by the audience. The lights have now been tackled and the story steeped in history begins. What the audience will take with them could further fuel the debate about art, responsibility and ethics in the film business. The discussion about Hutchins' heir is anything but ended.