Cornell Cinema hosts 'RBG' screening with discussion

Cornell  Cinema will host a special screening of “RBG,” a multidimensional portrait of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’54, at 7 p.m. Sept. 17 in Willard Straight Theatre, which will include an introduction by Government Professor Gretchen Ritter, who will also lead a post-screening discussion. The screening is also sponsored by the Cornell University Democrats.

Ritter, former dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, studies the history of women's Constitutional rights and contemporary issues concerning democracy and citizenship in American politics. In September 2014, Ritter and Justice Ginsburg, both Cornell graduates, held a conversation at the New York Historical Society. 

The documentary was also broadcast Sept. 3, at 9 p.m. and midnight EDT on CNN, and was streamed live on CNNGo.

The critically acclaimed film, directed by Betsy West and Julie Cohen, looks at Ginsburg’s life and its many lessons, her legal legacy and her status as a multigenerational pop culture icon. The film features exclusive interviews with the justice and with Gloria Steinem, Nina Totenberg, Sen. Orrin Hatch and others; scenes from Ginsburg’s career and private life, including previously unseen home movies, are also included.

“RBG” spends considerable time on Ginsburg’s years at Cornell, where she met her late husband, Martin Ginsburg ’53, and how he inspired her achievements. A companion podcast, “Beyond Notorious,” hosted by CNN’s Poppy Harlow and Jeffrey Toobin, provides additional context on Ginsburg’s life and career.

The documentary, produced by CNN Films, premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival in January and had a limited theatrical run this year.

The film is also available on demand and will encore on CNN Sunday, Sept. 9, at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern.

A version of this story also appeared in the Cornell Chronicle.