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In recent years, 85-year-old Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg has become an unlikely cultural icon. But if you’ve ever wondered what makes her such a remarkable figure, the biopic On the Basis of Sex offers just a glimpse of the challenges she faced and the battles she fought long before donning her robe.
On the Basis of Sex begins in the 1950s, as a twenty-something Ruth (played by Felicity Jones) is juggling her classes at Harvard Law School with motherhood and married life with fellow student Marty (Armie Hammer). One of just nine women admitted to Harvard, she’s often underestimated. But despite her husband’s battle with cancer and the family’s move to New York, she graduates at the top of her class at Columbia, only to find that no law firm will hire her. But her drive and determination—along with the support of her husband—push her to fight to change the nation’s laws.
Justice Ginsberg is a fascinating woman with so many inspiring stories to tell—so it’s obviously difficult to pare down her life story into just two hours of screen time. But while this biopic tackles just the tip of the iceberg, it gives a good overview of her character, her motivation, and the early days of her career.
The story starts in law school, where Ginsberg has to fight to be acknowledged—where she has to answer questions about why she deserves to take a man’s spot in the prestigious program. And it continues as she’s turned down by every law firm in New York City—until she’s forced to take a job as a professor instead. And these experiences clearly shaped the way she saw both society and the law.
But the film also explores Ginsberg’s marriage and family life. That’s not something that you might expect from the biography of a legal legend—and focusing on her personal life may seem to go against everything that she stands for. But her husband and daughter actually play an important part in her story—from Marty’s support, encouragement, and equal domestic partnership to her teen daughter’s fearlessness.
Together, these aspects of Ginsberg’s life—both her professional and personal sides—show what’s important to her and why it matters. Admittedly, though, some of the story isn’t especially exciting. While each part of the film makes a valuable point, it takes a while to build up to the more fascinating parts—to her first big case. But it eventually comes together to tell an inspiring story of an important figure.
On the Basis of Sex may not be as bold and vibrant as the popular t-shirts adorned with RBG’s portrait. But it’s a stirring biography of a woman who was determined to make a difference.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
