The world premiere of the film “Rust” at Poland’s Camerimage festival revived debate about the tragic on-set shooting that murdered cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021.
Olga Solovey, Hutchins’ mother, will not attend the screening, citing actor Alec Baldwin’s apparent lack of repentance and what she describes as attempts to “unjustly profit” on her daughter’s murder. The sold-out screening represents a difficult milestone for both the film’s production team and Hutchins’ family.
“It was always my hope to meet my daughter in Poland and see her work come to life on screen,” Solovey stated through her attorney, Gloria Allred. “Unfortunately, that was ripped away from me when Alec Baldwin discharged his gun and killed my daughter.”
The film’s route to the screen has been riddled with legal issues. Baldwin recently had his involuntary manslaughter charges dismissed by a New Mexico judge. On the other hand, Solovey’s civil negligence action against Baldwin is still pending, despite his attempts to halt the proceedings.
Allred questioned Baldwin’s response to the tragedy, claiming he has never personally apologized to Hutchins’ family. She chastised Baldwin’s legal team for supposedly saying Hutchins was “emotionally distant from her family in Ukraine.”
Festival organizer Kazimierz Suwala stated that the showing is a tribute to Hutchins. Baldwin’s possible attendance would be too distracting, he remarked. What this is about is honoring Halyna’s dreams for her work.”
The western film, set in 1880s Wyoming, is around a 13-year-old kid who flees with his grandfather after accidently killing a rancher. Director Joel Souza, who was also injured in the 2021 shooting, will introduce the film with cinematographer Bianca Cline.
The premiere takes place amid ongoing legal events. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film’s armorer, is currently serving an 18-month prison sentence for involuntary manslaughter. Recently, a judge declined to revisit the dismissal of Baldwin’s allegations.
Despite enormous ticket demand that wrecked the festival’s website, Solovey remains committed to justice. “There is still no justice for my daughter,” she said, emphasizing the film’s problematic production and tremendous personal grief.
The “Rust” premiere is a complex reminder of the horrific events that forever altered the lives of those involved in the film’s production.
