The fascinating documentary The Last Republican directed by Steve Pink unveils the struggle given by popular former Republican politician Adam Kinzinger to bring Donald Trump before justice, following the Capitol attack in January 2021, which marked one of the darkest pages in US political history. Kinzinger was a Congressman (member of the House of Representatives) for 12 consecutive years, from 2011 to 2023, while Steve Pink is a famous comedy actor, film director and screenwriter, having worked among others as the co-writer in Stephen Frears’ High Fidelity. The film will be screened as part of the 27th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival, held from March 6th to March 16th, 2025.
The documentary intertwines biting political commentary with a delightful comic touch, bridging two opposite worlds: a conservative Republican politician and a progressive Democrat artist. The common ground between them is no other than the safeguarding of the democratic ideals at all costs. The film refrains from putting a gloss on the political cleavage separating the two, serving as an implicit invitation for dialogue and acceptance of the difference in views.
The Last Republican, which has become even more up-to-the-minute and relevant in the aftermath of the recent electoral win of Donald Trump, stands out as an elucidating document not only on the inner-party processes and mechanisms of the Republicans, but on the broader US political scenery as well. At the same time, it foregrounds the ruptures within a supposedly unshakeable political system, which became overtly evident to the entire planet after the Capitol attack, an incident that reminds us that the vested democratic benefits demand constant vigilance and zero complacency.
Adam Kinzinger was the first elected US legislator to sign off the alarm bell, standing up against Donald Trump and asking for his impeachment on the grounds of possible complicity in the instigation of the Capitol attack. Moreover, he was only one out of the ten Republicans to turn against Trump, while also taking part in the select committee established to investigate the January 6th events. The committee recommended charging Donald Trump with four felonies, however his recent presidential election led to the full dismissal of all charges.
The documentary maps out Kinzinger’s struggle, but also the repercussions he was subjected to in his political career as he instantly became the black sheep of the Republican party, while he and his family received death threats by extremists. The Last Republican points out the responsibilities and the brave decisions one has to undertake when faced up against conditions that menace Democracy’s very nature and substance, emerging as a story of conscious resistance against a seemingly invincible opponent.
