A surprising journey: The making of ‘The Last Republican’
A filmmaker’s unexpected path
Initially, the idea of creating a documentary about former U.S. Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger seemed far-fetched to Steve Pink, the director known for “Hot Tub Time Machine.” As a self-proclaimed far-left progressive, Pink was skeptical about finding common ground with Kinzinger, a conservative who took a stand against Donald Trump following the Jan. 6 insurrection.
“The thought was that we are both from Illinois, so that was cool and we both have a Midwestern orientation, but I just couldn’t imagine a single thing I would agree with him on, except for this one thing, which was clearly that something new was happening here in American life where the nature of our democracy was and is being questioned,” Pink reflects.
The courage to stand alone
When the U.S. Capitol was attacked on Jan. 6, 2021, Kinzinger was one of the ten Republicans who voted to impeach the former president for inciting the insurrection. His decision to serve on the Congressional committee investigating the events of that day led to his ostracization from his party and even death threats against him and his family.
Eventually, Pink recognized that Kinzinger’s willingness to sacrifice his career for his principles made him a compelling subject for a documentary.
“I find that when anyone sacrifices something so big, like their livelihood, that’s very courageous and that interested me, even though I didn’t really want to be interested,” admits Pink.
Humor in unexpected places
Despite the potential for a somber or contentious film, “The Last Republican” manages to inject humor into its narrative. One memorable scene features Pink asking Kinzinger why he agreed to the project. Kinzinger’s response? “Hot Tub Time Machine is the thing that sold me. It’s a cinematic masterpiece. How can such a serious filmmaker like [the maker] of ‘Hot Tub Time Machine’ not make me look good?”
Pink laughs, “Right. That’s really good logic.”
This humor allows the film to be bipartisan, giving voice to both a conservative, albeit an anti-Trumper, and a liberal.
The making of ‘The Last Republican’
A new venture for Pink
“The Last Republican” is not only Pink’s first documentary but also the inaugural film from the Media Courthouse Documentary Collective (MCDC), a production company he co-founded. The decision to focus on Kinzinger came after a series of discussions among the collective’s members.
“We were sitting around and all talking about all these projects that everyone had in mind and Adam’s name came up and we just started talking about him as an interesting subject. Then we went out and met him and pitched him,” Pink explains.
Navigating political differences
Creating a documentary about a conservative Republican as a liberal filmmaker posed unique challenges. Pink and Kinzinger had serious disagreements, but they also found common ground in their commitment to civil discourse.
“Sometimes the conversations were very serious and we absolutely disagreed in ways that weren’t funny at all, but then we realized that’s not what the movie’s about. We really wanted to start to explore what civil discourse is,” Pink says.
Building trust
Over time, Pink and Kinzinger developed a friendship that allowed for more candid and less emotionally charged discussions.
“The thing that I was learning is to think of everyone as your friend. If they are your friend, you can give them shit. If they are your friend, you are more willing to hear what they have to say, even though the second they open their mouth, you don’t agree with them,” Pink notes.
A message for all
In August, Kinzinger spoke at the Democratic National Convention, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris and denouncing Trump. This move raised questions about whether the film was preaching to the liberal choir.
“The fact that we are giving a platform to a conservative Republican in and of itself might not be preaching to the liberal choir because there are many on my side who are surprised, and say why would make a movie about a conservative Republican when there are so many other subjects you could make a movie about?” Pink ponders.
The importance of civil discourse
Ultimately, Pink hopes that “The Last Republican” will encourage viewers to engage in civil discourse, regardless of their political beliefs.
“Civil discourse is probably the key to the success of our society and our communities, period. We have become so polarized. I want everyone to see this film no matter what side of the political divide you are on precisely because we all have to get better at figuring out how to have a conversation with people we disagree with,” Pink emphasizes.
For more information and to watch the trailer, visit The Last Republican.
Submarine is handling sales of “The Last Republican.”