When Does "On the Basis of Sex" (2018) Take Place?
"On the Basis of Sex" is a historical fiction film written by Daniel Stiepleman and released December 25th, 2018.
It takes place in the years:
We know this because its entire final two thirds depicts the court case Charles E. Moritz v. IRS, which Ruth Bader Ginsberg and her husband Martin Ginsberg joined in Fall 1970 AD and was resolved on November 22nd, 1972 AD. There is even a time setting title card that reads "1970" at the start of this portion of the movie.
1970 AD - 1972 AD
We know this because its entire final two thirds depicts the court case Charles E. Moritz v. IRS, which Ruth Bader Ginsberg and her husband Martin Ginsberg joined in Fall 1970 AD and was resolved on November 22nd, 1972 AD. There is even a time setting title card that reads "1970" at the start of this portion of the movie.
Additionally, there's a two-part extended prologue that opens immediately with a time setting title card that says, "1956". The Ginsbergs are both attending Harvard Law Graduate School at this time (the real-world Ruth Bader Ginsberg was in her first year and on track to graduate the three-year program in 1959 AD while the real-world Martin Ginsberg was in his second year and on track to graduate in 1958 AD). At about one-fifth through the film, the narrative jumps ahead to just after Martin Ginsberg's graduation and Ruth Ginsberg's second year and it is confirmed soon after by another time setting title card reading "1959".
This Smithonian magazine article by Lila Thulin examines its exact setting.
