The premiere of Rust at the Camerimage Film Festival in Toruń, Poland, brought an emotional and intense reaction from the audience. According to reports, viewers audibly gasped during a specific scene in the movie where a character is accidentally shot to death. This reaction was attributed to the unavoidable connection between the scene and the real-life tragedy involving the fatal on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins by Alec Baldwin in October 2021.
The film’s plot, centered on a boy accidentally killing someone and then going on the run with his grandfather, shares a haunting thematic resonance with the incident. Critics noted that it is challenging for viewers to separate the narrative of the film from the events surrounding its production.
Alec Baldwin, who was not present at the premiere, has remained in New York as the film’s release focused more on honoring Halyna Hutchins. Rust currently does not have plans for a U.S. release, which may further contextualize its reception abroad and its association with the tragic event.
