‘RBG’ Filmmaker Julie Cohen on Justice Ginsburg’s Death: ‘I Was Stunned’

For “RBG” documentary filmmaker Julie Cohen, the loss of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is tremendous. Cohen made her comments during a Zoom event with Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival Executive Director Hilary Helstein on Sept. 24. 

“For me, it was just strangely shocking,” Cohen said. “Really, rationally one couldn’t be completely shocked… She was not only 87 years old, but struggled with extremely serious cancer… And yet, when I learned last Friday evening that she had died I was stunned because she was just a person with so much life force and so much determination and frankly, at this particular point in history, was quite determined to try to live until the inauguration of a new president. From everything that I know about her, I expected that to happen.”

Cohen also noted her mixed feelings just two hours after news broke Ginsburg’s death on Sept. 18, when news outlets moved the conversation to who would replace her on the Supreme Court.

“It feels to me, when someone of her magnitude dies, it really feels important to step back a bit and reflect on their life, especially for us particularly as Jews at this time of year when we are reflecting on what is important and what our values really are. I like to think that is my role to play.”

Cohen’s multi-year relationship with the Notorious RBG began over Russ & Daughters smoked fish. The documentarian interviewed Ginsburg for her 2014 film, “The Sturgeon Queens,” which followed the classic New York fish market and cafe. After Ginsburg said she enjoyed the interview, she later agreed to do the documentary with Cohen and her co-director Betsy West. 

During the panel that reached capacity with 900 in virtual attendance and 200 on Facebook live, Cohen recalled favorite moments from the documentary including going to Washington and seeing Ginsburg in action on the court, filming private moments with her family and the chance to film Ginsburg’s gym workout.

“She was small but mighty and she wasn’t going to let anything break her,” Helstein said.

Asked about Ginsburg’s legacy, Cohen said, “I think that she hope[d] that there [would come] a day where some of the more important dissents that she wrote can become the basis of majority opinions and the criticisms she voiced would take their place in becoming the law of the land.” 

“RBG” is currently streaming on various platforms including Amazon, Hulu and free on Youtube through Sept. 26.

Watch the full conversation below:

https://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesJewishFilmFestival/videos/3418483251597540