Three years after Alec Baldwin’s deadly shot, the director breaks the silence | EUROtoday
ILya of the movies that we dream of creating. And then there’s Rust. Joel Souza, he was not dreaming anymore – he nonetheless nightmares. “I would have preferred never to write this damn film,” says the 51 -year -old director from his workplace in California, to the Guardian. In October 2021, on the set of this mowed western shot in Santa Fe, Alec Baldwin, Star and producer, press the relief. An actual bullet – presupposed to be white – crosses the director of images Halyna Hutchins and involves strike Souza on the shoulder. She dies immediately. He survives. Narrowly.
Three years later, Rust Finally leaves within the United States. Without the cursed scene, in fact. But the remaining, it needed to be assumed. Rust is a western – due to this fact, inevitably, a world of powder, lead and stress. And the story, merciless irony, tells that of an adolescent incarcerated after … an unintended capturing. “The film talks about what it stages: consequences of violence. There is a real anti-army message, ”insists Joel Souza.
No option to erase Halyna Hutchins
Joel Souza resumed filming a yr and a half after the tragedy. By responsibility, virtually reluctantly. “The family wanted it to be finished. He didn’t want to. “Emotionally, I was completely upset. Then he changed himself. “I couldn’t bear the idea that someone else does it. »»
So he returned. On one condition: that no one discusses their vision. “There were arguments that I didn’t want to have. It was the only way to get out of it. And above all: there is no question of erasing Halyna Hutchins. She’s there everywhere. We kept his plans, written his name in second position in the end credits – in English and in Ukrainian – and added a sentence, become a mantra for Halyna Hutchins after each catch: ‘How can we improve this?’ “I wanted to include this for her mother,” said Joel Souza. “That a whore son comes to say a word about it,” he adds. “I will face it in the street!” »»
With Alec Baldwin, “there is no link”
Questioned by The Guardianthe director does not evade anything. Not even Alec Baldwin, which he found on the set. “We are not friends. We are not enemies. There is no link, ”he says. The trial of final summer time laundered it, partly: the costs of manslaughter have been deserted, however the judicial file stays as holed because the bulletproof vest of the Hollywood trade. The Armorière, Hannah GUTIERREZ-REED, it purge 18 months. The assistant director pleaded responsible.
And Alec Baldwin? He makes a actuality TV. In January, he launched his program along with his spouse Hilaria: The Baldwins. Twelve youngsters, a triplex, nannies, dishes in abundance … an orgy of luxurious and ego. America has coughing. Joel Souza, for his half, didn’t look. He had higher to do: “I think I was busy knocking on the face with a frying pan that evening. »»
Other real weapons that appeared in Hollywood
Inevitably, Joel Souza is thinking back to this October day, to this error chain that started in the morning. “Bad choice after unhealthy choice,” he said. As a screenwriter and director, would he repeat things differently? He hesitates. “What butterfly impact …”, he breathes. Before letting go, bitter: “I’d have most well-liked to not write this rattling movie. »»
Read too “If Alec Baldwin had followed the rules, this ball would have finished in a wall”
To uncover
The kangaroo of the day
Answer
There stays a burning query: Hollywood realized the teachings from the drama? Souza doubtful. On the units, actual weapons proceed to seem, and accidents to be brushed. Last yr, a director of images advised him that he had found, on the final minute, energetic ammunition on a shoot for an enormous studio in Los Angeles. “They feel that it could never happen to them,” stated Souza.
Rust will likely be launched on May 2 within the United States. He bears the identify of Halyna Hutchins in tribute, and that of a drama that Hollywood would have most well-liked to neglect. In France, no outing has but been introduced.
https://www.lepoint.fr/culture/j-aurais-prefere-ne-jamais-ecrire-ce-satane-film-trois-ans-apres-le-tir-mortel-d-alec-baldwin-le-realisateur-brise-le-silence-29-04-2025-2588554_3.php