michael c. reiff was mixed in his review for the film, writing "while mink broke seemingly insurmountable barriers in her quest for self-realization, the film version of her life constrains her narrative to conventional and commonplace forms. bassford pleasantly and cleanly educates, but doesn't achieve, or fully attempt, to cinematically translate the essence and vivid spirit of the subject." in contrast, a reviewer for the "huffington post" praised the documentary, which they found "thrilling".