Ruth Bader Ginsburg on her new Sundance documentary, her #MeToo revelation and 'SNL's' 'Gins-burn'
It was just one day after an estimated million protesters had gathered in cities around the world for Women’s March first-anniversary events, including a crowd of hundreds in below-freezing Park City, Utah, where the Sundance Film Festival is in full swing. Combined with constant talk of a growing Time’s Up movement and a deluge of women-in-film panels, the call for female empowerment was strong.
Enter: Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her #MeToo revelation.
A crowd clamored around the Supreme Court justice when she arrived Sunday afternoon, holding up phones in futile attempts to grab a photo of the 5-foot-1 Ginsburg as she walked inside the Filmmakers Lodge on Main Street for a chat with NPR correspondent Nina Totenberg.
Ginsburg was at Sundance for the premiere of “RBG” — a documentary about the 84-year-old’s life from early childhood, her justiceship, her rise to cultural icon status (and “Notorious RBG” nickname), as well as her unprecedented critique of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.
Three days later, the documentary was acquired by Magnolia Pictures and Participant Media for worldwide distribution, including theatrical, home video, SVOD and international television. CNN Films, which produced the project with Storyville Films, retains U.S. broadcast rights to RBG. A healthy Oscar campaign is sure to ensue, and Ginsburg’s increasingly iconic status will only boost interest.
Inside the Sundance premiere’s theater, the packed audience stole glances and whispered, “She’s here.”
The film opens with a barrage of sound bites from several men criticizing her.
“She’s an absolute disgrace to the Supreme Court,” then-presidential candidate Donald Trump is heard saying.
Several women then consecutively appear on screen to say otherwise.
“She’s the closest thing to a superhero I know,” Gloria Steinem asserts.
“RBG” directors and film creators Betsy West and Julie Cohen used footage from Ginsburg’s 1993 Supreme Court confirmation hearing as the film’s narrative spine. Also included are home movies and interviews with Ginsburg, her family, Steinem, Bill Clinton, Sen. Orrin Hatch, Totenberg and others to create a picture of her professional and personal life.
In person though, she showed the audience why she’s such an important voice for women of all ages. Asked by Totenberg about the “me too” movement. Ginsburg didn’t hesitate.
“I think it’s about time,” she said, before sharing her own experience.