LIHU‘E — Some seven years after her passing, Patsy Mink — a 12-term U.S. Representative and the first female minority elected to Congress — has been remembered in a new hour-long documentary film entitled “Patsy Mink, Ahead of the Majority,”
LIHU‘E — Some seven years after her passing, Patsy Mink — a 12-term U.S. Representative and the first female minority elected to Congress — has been remembered in a new hour-long documentary film entitled “Patsy Mink, Ahead of the Majority,” which premiered at the Kaua‘i Community College Performing Arts Center this week.
The premiere was sponsored by the Kaua‘i County Committee on the Status of Women as part of the celebration of Women’s History Month to acknowledge and celebrate the courage, determination and steadfastness of women.
In Hawai‘i, a statewide commission was set up to organize women’s groups on every island and offer a collaboration process to share resources and highlight various issues such as equal rights, domestic violence, single family parent and equal pay. The Maui committee has chosen to hold a two-day festival with booths and activities.
On Kaua‘i, the Committee on the Status of Women chose to present films focused on women’s issues.
“As a committee we were looking for something that would inspire women and honor those who have paved the way,” said committee member Regina Carvalho.
It was during the early stages of film production that Kimberlee Bassford, the producer, director, writer and co-editor of “Patsy Mink, Ahead of the Majority,” was asked to come to Kaua‘i to speak to the community. Bassford graciously accepted and brought her film to share in the premiere on Kaua‘i.
Bassford is described on her Web site, aheadofthemajority.com, as an award-winning independent filmmaker from Hawai‘i who has a passion for social issue and cultural stories. Bassford is a graduate of Punahou School and holds a BA in psychology from Harvard University and a Masters in Journalism from the University of California-Berkeley. She owns Making Waves Films LLC, a documentary production company in Honolulu.
When asked about her how she produced the Patsy Mink story, Bassford replied that before even getting started on her film, her first goal was to get permission from the Mink family. “I sat down with John Mink and Patsy’s daughter Gwendolyn and asked if they would be supportive of this project. Once they agreed, then it became a project.” Bassford began fundraising for about two years, and once the money was in place, it took another two years to produce the film.
A video of comments made by Bassford at the premierce may be viewed at thegardenisland.com.
Former Kaua‘i Mayor and County Council member JoAnn Yukimura made a short introduction of the film by describing Mink, who died in 2002, as an awesome pioneer, who broke through the barriers of sex, race, and ignorance, making changes in society that would affect women, people of color and the public as a whole. Yukimura added that Mink was one of her personal heroes because Mink always did what was right in the face of many obstacles.
Video of Yukimura’s introduction may be viewed at thegardenisland.com.
For more information about the film, go to aheadofthemajority.com.
The film will continue its release dates locally, nationally and internationally.
Film viewing dates
Honolulu International Film Festival
Documentary Competition
•March 8 at 11:30 a.m. Coral Ballroom, Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki
Big Island Premiere
• March 11 at 6 p.m.
Palace Theatre in Hilo
University of Hawai‘i Law School
In celebration of the Patsy Takemoto Mink Legislative Fellowship.
• March 16 at 6 p.m.
William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa
• Leo DuBois, contributor, can be reached via news editor Nathan Eagle at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or via e-mail at neagle@kauaipubco.com
