After an unthinkable tragedy and over three years of paused production, Alec Baldwin‘s indie drama Rust finally premiered in Poland, earning a surprisingly warm reception from viewers despite the film’s well-documented controversy. Not everyone was pleased by Rust‘s success, however, including the mother of the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins as well as some of her colleagues and compatriots in the industry.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the ill-fated Western earned its warm welcome at the Camerimage Film Festival, an event which specifically focuses on achievements in cinematography. Before the screening began, Camerimage director Kazimierz Suwala addressed the crowd — which was mostly made up of photography directors and production professionals — and invited them to take a moment of silence for Hutchins, who was fatally shot on the set of Rust in 2021. Festival founder Marek Zydowicz then stepped in, saying that he had agreed to host the premiere to honor Hutchins, as it was her dream to one day exhibit her work at the event.
This is a screening for Halyna’s friends — all of the cinematographers, directors and the filmmaker community here at Camerimage. –
Marek Zydowicz
Rust director Joel Souza also spoke at the festival in commemoration of Hutchins, as did a close friend of Hutchins — Rachel Mason — who used her remarks to justify why Souza and other cast and crew members chose to push through the film’s tragedy and continue production. “I really hope the world can understand that this was a courageous act to complete this film,” she stated, before explaining that Rust’s success and eventual sale would benefit Hutchins’ widower and son, who would receive financial compensation from the film as part of a settlement agreement with Rust producers.
‘Rust’ Continues to Face Controversy After Screening
When news of Rust‘s premiere was revealed, however, more than a few DPs took to social media to express their disapproval. They argued that showing the film at a public festival was a solely promotional decision that disrespected Hutchins’ memory, as the creation of Rust ultimately cost Hutchins her life. Hutchins’s mother, Olga Solovey, sent a statement to the media via her attorney that only echoed these sentiments, writing, “Alec Baldwin continues to increase my pain with his refusal to apologize to me and his refusal to take responsibility for her death. Instead, he seeks to unjustly profit from his killing of my daughter.”
However, the Camerimage festival has continued to emphasize that their screening of Rush was intended to honor Hutchins and her legacy. The event included a panel where Hutchins’s work was discussed alongside speakers who addressed issues of prop safety on-set, and the festival also chose not to invite Baldwin due to the inevitable spectacle of his appearance and his role, however unintentional, in Hutchins’s death. Additionally, a previous statement made by Solovey indicated her approval of the continued production of Rust, as she stated that she wanted to see her daughter’s work on the big screen.
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It’s likely that Rust will continue to generate controversy, especially as producers continue to seek U.S. distribution. Though the film has been picked up in several other countries, its tragic backstory could deter many American companies, who may believe that audiences will boycott the film.
However, Hutchins’s family depends on the financial success of Rust, as they approved the film’s completion in exchange for a stake in the profits.
A boy left to fend for himself and his younger brother following their parents’ deaths in 1880s. Kansas goes on the run with his long-estranged grandfather after he is sentenced to hang for the accidental killing of a local rancher.