“Without Precedent: The Supreme Life of Rosalie Abella” opens theatrically
Hot Docs favourite ‘Without Precedent: The Supreme Life of Rosalie Abella‘ to open in Canadian theatres on June 9th, 2023
Rosalie Silberman Abella — “Rosie” to almost everyone who knows her — has built a breathtaking and pathbreaking legal legacy while becoming a human rights hero and icon. This is the story of an exceptional person who spent her entire life reminding us that we must never forget how the world looks to those who are vulnerable.
Considered by many to be the “Canadian RBG,” she was at the forefront of major decisions on employment equity, gay marriage, constitutional law, and many more landmark cases. In addition, Justice Abella — born in a displaced persons’ camp following the Holocaust and an immigrant to Canada at the age of 4 — stood for many marginalized communities during her years on the bench.
As a passionate and provocative Supreme Court Justice, Rosie Abella is the sixth woman appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada since 1875, the first Jewish woman and the
first refugee to sit on the bench — but she’s probably the first Canadian justice that became a human rights phenomenon.
The film is a loving and informative documentary portrait of Justice Abella in the final days before leaving the bench, with full evidence of what inspired her and what continues to drive her resolute commitment to make a difference, as well as a chronicle of her family beginnings, her meteoric career, and her enduring marriage to Irving Abella.
Meet a fireball of a person who is curious, accessible and still ambitious at the age of 75 as she begins the next act of her life, a life that is underscored with pain, triumph, 38 honorary degrees, and the music of Gershwin.
‘Without Precedent: The Supreme Life of Rosalie Abella’ will open in Canadian theatres on Friday, June 9th. The documentary is written and directed by Montreal-born Barry Avrich (The Talented Mr. Rosenberg, Made You Look: A True Story about Fake Art) and focuses on Rosalie Abella—Canada’s first female Jewish Supreme Court Judge and third female on the bench. The film features interviews with Margaret Atwood, The Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, The Right Honourable Paul Martin, The Right Honourable Joe Clark, Adam Gopnik, Charles Bronfman and Irving Abella, among others, and recently had its World Premiere at Hot Docs 2023.
It will open in the following Canadian theatres:
- Forum (Montreal)
- Deluxe Cavendish (Montreal)
- Varsity (Toronto)
- Empress Walk (Toronto)
- St. Laurent Centre (Ottawa)
- Scotiabank Theatre (Ottawa)
- Scotiabank Theatre (Winnipeg)
- Eau Claire (Calgary)
- Fifth Avenue (Vancouver)
WATCH THE TRAILER BELOW
Rosalie Abella was appointed at 29 as the youngest judge in Canadian history and leaves the Supreme Court as its longest-serving current member. As Canada’s first Jewish female Supreme Court Justice, Abella reflects on a career that made her a human rights hero. Considered by some as the “Canadian RBG,” Abella has been at the forefront of powerful and at times controversial legal decisions on employment equity, same sex marriage, constitutional law, and many more landmark cases. With a perspective and point of view shaped from being born in a displaced persons camp following the Holocaust and an immigrant to Canada at the age of 4 — Abella has dedicated her monumental career to serving many marginalized communities during her years on the bench, and commands respect across the global political spectrum, internationally.
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