Tribute to Halyna Hutchins: Rust premiere with minute of silence in Poland

Tribute to Halyna Hutchins: Rust premiere with minute of silence in Poland

The Western “Rust,” which has been making headlines for the past three years, recently premiered at a prestigious film festival in Poland. The event took place at the Camerimage International Film Festival in the city of Torun and was dedicated to a minute's silence for the tragically deceased cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who died during filming in 2021.

Hutchins lost her life to a shot from a gun fired by lead actor and co-producer Alec Baldwin. The incident occurred during a rehearsal near Santa Fe, New Mexico, when Baldwin pointed the gun at Hutchins without pulling the trigger. “I pulled the tap back,” Baldwin later explained. The shot had fatal consequences: Hutchins died and director Joel Souza was injured.

Act of dedication and memories

The premiere was a remarkable moment as it not only honored the creativity of the late cinematographer, but also touched the emotions of everyone present. Souza, who presented the film in Poland, spoke about the great challenge of resuming filming after such a tragic incident. “It just hurt too much,” he said. Hutchins' husband, Matthew, took on the role of executive producer to ensure his wife's work received the recognition it deserved.

The film itself revolves around the moving story of a 13-year-old boy who is lost and estranged from his family after accidentally shooting a rancher. As he escapes with his grandfather, played by Baldwin, a gripping narrative unfolds. Bianca Cline, who joined the project after the accident, said that Hutchins contributed significantly to the film's visual design and incorporated many of her notes into her work.

Absence of critical voices

It's notable that Hutchins' mother, who is suing Baldwin and the production company, stayed away from the premiere. Her absence is marked by emotional distress; She sees the film as Baldwin's attempt to take advantage of her daughter's death. Baldwin himself was not present at the premiere either. Hutchins' mother said through a lawyer: "Alec Baldwin is adding to my pain with his refusal to apologize to me." This heightened rivalry has strained the bonds between those involved and casts a shadow over the entire film.

The premiere was also accompanied by further controversy surrounding the event. A previous manslaughter case against Baldwin was dropped because police and prosecutors withheld evidence, according to the court. However, the weapons master who was responsible for security on set received an 18-month prison sentence because she was accused of bringing live ammunition onto the set and neglecting basic security measures.

The festival in Poland itself has not been spared from criticism either, as it has been overshadowed by various controversies surrounding statements made by festival founder Marek Żydowicz that were perceived as sexist. This led to prominent filmmakers such as Steve McQueen withdrawing from their participation, further increasing tensions at the festival.

Camerimage Festival organizers were aware that the film “Rust” might elicit mixed reactions, but still chose to pay Hutchins this significant tribute. “We didn’t want to lose sight of the respect and value of their work,” Żydowicz explained. Amid all these challenges, the eulogy of Hutchins and her life-affirming legacy remains alive in the minds of audiences and the film industry.