RBG

RBG is a remarkable documentary, released in 2018, chronicling the life and career of the eminent U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Through a sequence of intimate interviews, archival footage, and captivating exploration of her landmark cases, the film paints a deeply engrossing and compelling portrait of an unexpected pop culture icon, and one of the most important and transformative legal figures of our time.

Directed by Julie Cohen and Betsy West, the film features Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, her friends, family, colleagues, and others such as Ann Kittner and Harryette Helsel, contributing through interviews and discussions thus presenting a comprehensive portrayal of Ginsburg's exceptional life and career.

The film is titled RBG, reflecting the remarkable cultural and social stature Ginsburg has in modern America - her initials are instantly recognizable, affectionately referred to as 'The Notorious RBG', drawing parallels with the famous rapper - The Notorious B.I.G. The moniker signifies Ginsburg's indomitable spirit and voice in advocating for gender equality and women's rights, alongside her love for opera and her workout routine which, despite her age, demonstrates her stamina and determination.

RBG unfolds as a fascinating tale exploring Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s exceptional life narrative in its full span. Ginsburg’s journey from a working-class neighborhood in Brooklyn to the highest echelons of American judicial power is extensively portrayed through her schooling, her time at Harvard and Columbia Law School, her early career as a law professor, her historic argumentative journey in the Supreme Court as a lawyer for the ACLU in the 1970s all the way to her current tenure as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

The film takes a unique approach by intertwining the storytelling with Ginsburg's groundbreaking cases, allowing viewers to understand more deeply the legal genius of Justice Ginsburg. It explores how RBG – through the power of her well-articulated reasoning and irrefutable logic – changed the course of American law by methodically chipping away at discriminatory practices, one case at a time.

This powerful documentary also sheds light on Ginsburg’s personal life, particularly on her loving marriage and lifelong partnership with her late husband, Martin Ginsburg. It gives viewers an inside look into Ruth as a wife and a mother, exploring the role that her husband Marty played in supporting her career, his own achievements as a tax attorney, and the groundwork they laid for what became a modern and progressive model for domestic partnerships.

Yet, the documentary isn't just a tribute. The directors have made sure RBG is a portrayal of Ruth Bader Ginsburg - the woman. We see her as a young person, filled with ambition and drive, the struggles she overcame, the effect of her way of knowing humor mixed with sternness. The weight of the history she’s lived and the change she's achieved, rests in the natural creases of her face, in her quiet demeanor, in her thoughtful moments, and in her feisty exchanges in court. Viewers get to know her fondness for opera, her impressive workout routine, her sense of humor, and even her sartorial signature - the collars she wears over her judicial robes for different judicial instances.

The film RBG offers an up-close look into the life and career of a woman who has become a symbol of justice, resistance, and national aspiration. This is an opportunity for viewers to contend with the life behind the legend - a more intimate, orthodox, genuine, and accessible RBG, a woman who, through resilience, tenacity, and a brilliant legal mind, has forever changed the world for women and men alike.

RBG is a powerfulcombination of personal narrative, newsreel, and courtroom drama, designed to educate, inspire,and fascinate everyone from law students to human rights activists, to those who know and love Ruth Bader Ginsburg, or are just discovering her. Those who watch this documentary will participate in honoring her legacy by receiving a closer, personal, and intimate understanding of this incredible figure and all she represents.