Making a big splashy world premiere earlier this year at the 49th Toronto International Film Festival, Steve Pink’s (Hot Tub Time Machine) documentary The Last Republican follows former Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger who took a stand against Donald Trump after the January 6th attack on the United States Capitol.
The synopsis of the film reads: Displaying an unwavering commitment to putting country over self, Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger sacrificed his career and personal relationships by publicly demanding accountability for Donald Trump’s role in the January 6 insurrection. Filmed during Kinzinger’s final year in Congress, The Last Republican reveals behind-the-scenes insights into the explosive January 6 committee hearings while delving into what drove him to take a stand as well as the lasting impact of his decision.
Comedy writer, director, and far-left progressive Steve Pink (Hot Tub Time Machine, High Fidelity) formed an unlikely and often hilarious friendship with Kinzinger during their time together. Despite their political differences, Pink and Kinzinger’s mutual respect and shared humanity offer a timely reminder that civil discourse is possible—even in a deeply divided America.
“I found that story in Congressman Adam Kinzinger, a conservative Republican whose political and personal life would ordinarily make me anti-curious. But his stand against former President Donald Trump and the Republican Party in the wake of January 6th changed all that,” says director Steve Pink about the film in his director’s statement. “I followed Adam during the final year of his Congressional career, capturing his life through the perspective of a left-wing progressive and comedy writer-director. Through the process of making the film, I discovered that even though we vehemently disagreed on practically everything concerning the role of government in a healthy society, we still managed to develop a genuine friendship.”
“Although I was initially focused on Adam’s critical role during this pivotal time in American politics, as the film progressed, I also found myself reevaluating the importance of maintaining relationships with those who hold fundamentally different views. In today’s polarized world, this idea feels incredibly meaningful to me and underscores my belief that unless we actively embrace civil discourse for the sake of the common good, our democracy will continue to face great peril,” Pink continues.
Kinzinger recently commented on Trump’s win in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. “Everybody keep your heads up. This isn’t forever, and after America gets a taste of what it voted for, there will likely be a massive backlash,” Kinzinger wrote in a tweet. “There will be lots of time to come, and I’m still in the trenches with you. Just going to take a bit longer.”
The Last Republican will open for a week-long engagement in Los Angeles on November 22. It will be accompanied by special screenings in New York, San Francisco, and additional theaters across Los Angeles.
Watch clips from The Last Republican
Theater Listings
New York:
Tuesday, November 12th (Screening details TBD)
With Steve Pink & Adam Kinzinger in attendance
Los Angeles:
Friday, November 22nd at Laemmle Santa Monica
With Steve Pink & Adam Kinzinger in attendance at select screenings