Filmmaker Steve Pink follows the former U.S. congressman after opposing Donald Trump. In the wake of the January 6 Capitol riot, Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger sheds light on the events and on those who were responsible.
Former U.S. Congressman Adam Kinzinger, one of the 10 Republicans who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump for his role in the January 6th insurrection, is the focus of The Last Republican, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Directed by Steve Pink, the documentary captures the profound personal and professional consequences of Kinzinger’s decision to oppose Trump, including his ostracism from his party, his family facing social isolation, and receiving alarming death threats.
“I’ve always been fascinated by politics and wanted to tell a political story,” Pink shared in an interview with Yahoo Canada. Initially, he admitted that Kinzinger, a conservative Republican, was not someone he would have been interested in documenting. However, Kinzinger’s stand against Trump and his willingness to sacrifice so much altered Pink’s perspective. “He sacrificed his friendships, his family, and his career,” Pink explained. “I had to reconcile the idea that someone with opposing political views was doing something I truly admired. That’s when I realized there was a film to be made.”
Right from the start, the documentary acknowledges the differences in beliefs between Kinzinger and Pink. “You have contempt for what I believe,” Kinzinger tells Pink early in the film. “I think in any other situation, you probably would be protesting my office.” Pink’s response, “That’s kind of mean,” sets the tone for a candid exploration of their differences. However, they find common ground in their shared sense of humor, with Kinzinger praising Pink’s 2010 film Hot Tub Time Machine as a “cinematic masterpiece.”
The documentary also delves into Kinzinger’s past, shedding light on experiences that have shaped his character, including a dramatic event where he intervened to stop an attempted stabbing. “I thought I was making a movie about a guy who sacrificed his career,” Pink noted. “But it became more about his determination not to lose his willingness to help others, despite overwhelming obstacles.”
As Kinzinger reflects in the documentary, “I’m not the one that’s changed, the Republican Party has changed.” Despite endorsing Kamala Harris in the upcoming election, Kinzinger has a deep-rooted passion for the Republican Party. “He grew up as a Republican, and he has such a love for the party,” Pink explained. “He’s in a tough spot. The party has transformed into something unrecognizable to him, seemingly abandoning its values for power.”
Reflecting on the documentary’s message, especially during a time of heightened political division, Pink stressed the importance of open, respectful dialogue.
“I firmly believe that the way forward is to have conversations with those you deeply disagree with,” he said. “It’s not about convincing others to change their views but understanding that political differences exist. Engaging respectfully is how we move toward a better society.”
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