Review of the tragedy on the set: Alec Baldwin talks about Rust

Review of the tragedy on the set: Alec Baldwin talks about Rust

In the past few weeks, the discussion about the western “Rust” has intensified after the leading actor Alec Baldwin announced that he did not want to watch the film's final version for the time being. He expressed this in an interview with the "Variety" industry magazine. The background of this decision is tragic: In October 2021, the camera woman Halyna Hutchins was fatally injured during the filming by a shot from a revolver that Baldwin was held.

The incident that overshadowed the entire film and its production led to a variety of legal consequences. Baldwin was relieved of a trial for negligent killing in the summer, but the responsible weapon master Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was sentenced to an 18-month prison sentence in April. Baldwin has prompted the need to deal with these traumatic events to refrain from the project that is inseparable from pain for him and his family.

emotional effects on Baldwin's life

Baldwin, who has been married to Hilaria Baldwin since 2012, commented that the events also had an impact on his marriage: "Apart from the victims themselves, what hurts me the most," he said. He emphasized that Hilaria was "very, very traumatized" and that the tragedy is a deep cut into her life and her family. Despite the challenges, Baldwin says that the marriage is generally well, including with their seven children together. But the horrors of this incident left a deep wound.

In addition to the personal effects, Baldwin explains that he would do anything to do the accident. Before the incident, everyone on the set had been “so happy” and the film production was characterized by positive energy. Many thanks to the team that the film could ultimately be completed after numerous difficulties. "Due to the later shooting, 'Rust' has become a better film in many ways," he notes what has given him a feeling of relief.

The actor, however, is determined to distance himself from the negative attention around “rust”. His main focus is now on his family life, in which he wants to show himself as a good father. "At the moment I want everything that has to do with 'rust' disappear from my radar so that I can devote myself to other things," he said. The past two years had "drained" him and he wants to invest his remaining energy in his children.

The premieres of the film that caused excitement were held at the Camerimage Festival in Poland and obviously further reactions to Baldwin's decision can be expected. Baldwin himself is concerned about the inheritance of the film, which in his opinion will always be connected to the tragedy. In the entertainment, too, the question remains open how the circumstances will affect filming and the subsequent process on the perception of the film. The situation remains tense and complex, and it is evident that the incidents on the set have shaped both Baldwin and the entire film community.