Premiere of Rust: Memories of Halyna Hutchins dull the shine

Premiere of Rust: Memories of Halyna Hutchins dull the shine

Today, November 20, 2024, the premiere of the film “Rust” is taking place, which is reigniting a debate about its content and the tragic events on the film set. The western, which was on hold for a long time after the fatal accident during filming in 2021, will now be shown at the “Camerimage” film festival in Poland. The incident that killed camerawoman Halyna Hutchins remains an emotional issue.

Olga Solovey, Halyna Hutchins' mother, has announced that she will be staying away from the screening in protest. Her lawyer explained that the reason for her decision was the lack of apology from Alec Baldwin, the film's lead actor and producer: "He never took responsibility for my daughter's death," Solovey said. She believes Baldwin is trying to profit unfairly from the tragedy.

Filming continues

Although filming was initially stopped after the incident in 2021, director Joel Souza continued it in 2023 in the US state of Montana. It was reported that before her death, Hutchins had told her friends that the film was her dream and that she would have liked to see it in Torun, which is why the festival wants to consider it a must-see reference to her legacy.

Director Souza has been announced for the premiere, while Baldwin will not be present. There was previously speculation about whether Solovey might come to the event after all. However, this highlights the tensions between those affected and the film industry.

The tragic incident

The fatal accident in 2021 was not only a shock to the film world, but also led to a lengthy legal process. During a rehearsal, Baldwin was handling a gun that accidentally went off. Hutchins was fatally shot and director Souza was injured. Investigating authorities later discovered that there was live ammunition in the weapon, leading to major questions about security measures on set.

Weapons specialist Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was responsible for security on the set, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and given an 18-month prison sentence. Still, questions remain as to how the real ammunition ended up on the set, and several people involved, including Baldwin, deny blame for the accident. In another case, Baldwin was also charged with involuntary manslaughter, but the trial was surprisingly stopped in July 2024.

In another legal move, Matthew Hutchins, Halyna Hutchins' husband, reached an out-of-court settlement with Baldwin and the production company. However, reports suggest that there have been problems with the payments, prompting Hutchins and his lawyer to consider taking further legal action. Hutchins' parents and younger sister, who live in Ukraine, have also filed a civil lawsuit against Baldwin and other production employees seeking compensation for the pain caused by the loss of Halyna Hutchins.

The circumstances surrounding the premiere of “Rust” are not only another step in the film’s production, but also a symbol of the ongoing conflicts and emotions that emerged from the tragic story. You can find more information on this topic in a detailed report on lomazoma.com.