The western ‘Rust’, in which Alec Baldwin killed his director of photography, premieres at a festival in Poland | Culture

Three years later, rustthe film marked by the tragedy where the actor Alec Baldwin shot and killed the director of photography Halyna Hutchins, has already been seen on the big screen, although in a testimonial way, at the Torun film festival (172,000 inhabitants) in Poland , dedicated precisely to film photography. The premiere took place on Wednesday, without the presence of its protagonist, nor the family of the dead filmmaker, who spoke out against the exhibition of the film. More information

In a statement sent days before In fact, Hutchins’ mother, Olga Solovey, argues that she will not sponsor any events as long as “Baldwin continues to refuse to apologize and take responsibility.” And he continues: “Instead, he seeks to benefit unfairly (as a producer) from the murder of my daughter without there having been justice for her,” he points out in a text sent by his lawyer, the popular Gloria Allred, with which has opened a civil lawsuit against the actor, who was already acquitted in the criminal lawsuit. The projection of rust133 minutes long, It began with a minute of silence and ended with a fade-in message on the screen that read “To Halyna: ‘What can we do to make it better?’” a quote attributed to Hutchins, according to NBC News.

The 42-year-old Ukrainian cinematographer died on October 21, 2021, when live bullets fired by Baldwin from a pistol hit her while filming the film in New Mexico. The actor was later charged with reckless homicide, although the case was dismissed last July due to withholding of evidence after several days of trial. The defense of the protagonist and producer of the western had argued that the Santa Fe police hid important evidence, some bullets that were moved from place to place, which would have benefited the accused. The bureaucratic argument worked.

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the gunsmith on the set, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for those same charges, and assistant director David Halls accepted a charge of negligence in handling a firearm. Baldwin, who is looking to relaunch his career with a reality show and with the imitation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in Saturday Night Livewas not invited to the premiere, according to the president of the Polish Cameraimage festival, Marek Żydowicz. Furthermore, the film does not currently have a distributor to release in theaters. Deadline Hollywood assures that an agreement in the United States is not imminent.

The screening, which was presented by director Joel Souza (also injured in the incident) and the substitute director of photography, Bianca Cline, had to change shape as the controversy over the premiere of the western grew among the members of the guild. of Hutchins. After the family’s rejection, they eliminated Hutchins’ mentor, Stephen Lighthill, from among the speakers. The room that, according to The New York Times, occupied three-quarters of its seats (despite everything being sold), it began with a preview in which the director explained that for months he was not sure if returning to filming was a good decision, but that, in the end, he made it his mission to save the work of its director of photography as a tribute, respecting her style as much as possible: “Halyna and Bianca have done a duet dance, and they have danced wonderfully,” he noted about the fusion of both looks.

Despite the family’s now litigious position, Souza explained to the BBC that it was the director of photography’s husband who convinced him to complete the film: “It was what the family wanted, and that changed everything. I wanted to honor his legacy and memory,” although he acknowledges that he was not supported in the industry. “Everyone is angry. But I don’t think any decision has the right answer,” he said. Because the film also has a reflection on real life from its plot. The western, set in 1882 in Wyoming, tells the story of a 13-year-old boy who flees with his grandfather (Baldwin) when he is sentenced to hang for accidentally killing a rancher. “It’s difficult to separate what you see on the screen from reality, especially with so many weapons. The story, furthermore, is about an orphan who goes through a series of tragedies, and you can’t stop thinking about Halyna’s son,” director of photography Samuel Romero explained to The New York Times in the projection. Baldwin enters the scene with a threatening soundtrack, chronicles of the session say.

‘Rust’ director Joel Souza sits with Camerimage head Marek Żydowicz inside the screening room at the world premiere of the film.

The festival has described the screening as a tribute to honor the late Ukrainian cinematographer Halyna Hutchins

Deadline Hollywood has described the reception of the room as “tempered.” Vulture which highlights the discomfort of watching the film alongside the filmmakers while the audience instead turned on the light on their cell phones, also points out that rust is “an unadorned and convincing western about guilt, family, law and devotion,” although he points out that Baldwin does not find his place, confused by his changes in accent and interpretive ranges, possibly due to the 18-month difference between sequences. They do not hide, in turn, how uncomforting it is to see him shoot to kill with his pistol, and point out that it is impossible to differentiate which director did each job. The image of the film most used by the news about the film, with Baldwin shooting, does not appear, by the way, in the final footage. There were no references to the actor in the 20-minute presentation of the film.

The Hollywood Reporter, for his parthighlighted that rust She was received with an “empathic hug,” especially thanks to the presence of Rachel Mason, a friend of Hutchins, who announced at the event that she had made a documentary about the director’s life and the process of finishing the film. The controversy will continue to rage, since Mason assures that Olga Solovey, the mother, gave her blessing for filming to continue: “I have the recording of the interview, and she said those words,” she assures. Despite that, Solovey was blunt in his statement: “They want to promote it to buyers so that Alec Baldwin and others who played a role in Halyna’s death obtain income. “The family does not accept taking advantage of his death.” The film’s production has responded that this response from the family “is disappointing,” and that “the film was shot with their support. This is not a festival for buyers, but to celebrate the art of cinematography. None of the producers will benefit financially, and to suggest that is disrespectful to those who have worked to honor their legacy.”

But this was not the only controversy for the Cameraimage festival, which opened with a protest over the lack of directors of photography among its screenings. In response to this criticism, the head of the festival wrote a column in which he suggested that the selection of more women in the program could have led to the inclusion of “mediocre film productions” at the expense of “works and artists with outstanding artistic achievements.” That response sparked widespread backlash, and the British Society of Cinematographers wrote an open letter to Żydowicz, attacking his “deeply misogynistic comments and aggressive tone.” Żydowicz reacted, stating that those accusations were “completely misplaced and offensive,” although he later apologized.

Director Steve McQueen, who presented there blitzcanceled his trip to Poland: “Although I have issued an apology, I do not accept deeply offensive words. “I have enormous respect for cinematographers of all genders, including women, and I think we need to demand better conditions and make room for everyone at the table.” Coralie Fargeat also suspended the screening of The substance. Actress Cate Blanchett who presides over the jury, however, has supported the festival with a statement in which he explained: “We welcome the debate on gender representation.”