A film about an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States might
not seem so interesting or relevant to a New Zealand crowd. But Ruth Bader
Ginsburg is somewhat of a rockstar of the legal system, and RBG will make you
stand up and notice the incredible achievements in her 85 year life.
 

Filmmakers Betsy West and Julie Cohen tell the story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s life
from her birth in Brooklyn to her more recent controversial comments on President
Trump. 85 years is a long time to cover and Ruth has had such a large impact that
there is a lot to cover, the film never drags, neither do you feel overwhelmed by her
story. Her story is told chronologically, with a balanced focus on both her personal
life and her professional career.
 

RBG shines a light on Ruth’s life, and is a celebration of her achievements. The film
features prominent cases she was involved in, cases which changed women’s rights
in America. But there is no cause for concern if you aren’t knowledgeable in
America’s law system, the film isn’t full of ‘legalese’, rather the cases are presented
in a simple yet easy to understand way. You aren’t spoon fed but you aren’t lost in
complicated terms and processes either.
 

It’s a film that inspires you to play to your own strengths to make the changes that
you want to see in the world. To see the changes this one woman has made in her
life is astounding, and while the future is uncertain you can hope that RBG inspires
the next generation to continue to make great change.
 

West and Cohen pull together a great selection of people from Ruth’s life to
interview. My personal favourite would be her granddaughter, she manages to bring
out a personal side of Ruth which is quite heartwarming. The interviews shine a light
on Ruth in such a positive way, you can’t help but fall a little bit in love with her.
 

A film about the notorious RBG is an inspirational tale about one woman’s quest to make the world a better place, which is why it’s a film for everyone to see.