In the 2024 film Lilly, there’s a scene that captures the essence of Lilly Ledbetter’s extraordinary life. She stands alone in a dimly lit break room, her hands trembling as she unfolds a crumpled pay stub revealing years of wage disparity. This moment marks the beginning of her transformation from a tire factory supervisor in Alabama to a symbol of the fight for equal pay.
Directed by Rachel Feldman, Lilly stars Patricia Clarkson as Lilly Ledbetter and Thomas Sadoski as her attorney, Jon Goldfarb. The film chronicles Ledbetter’s journey from discovering the pay inequity to her legal battle that culminated in the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009.
On Thursday, May 22, at 7pm, Upstate Films’ Orpheum Theater in Saugerties will host a special screening of Lilly. Following the screening, Patricia Clarkson and Thomas Sadoski will participate in an exclusive Q&A session, offering insights into the making of the film and the significance of Ledbetter’s story.
This event, presented by the Woodstock Film Festival, provides an opportunity to engage with a film that not only portrays a pivotal moment in the fight for workplace equality but also honors the legacy of a woman whose courage led to significant legislative change. Don’t miss this chance to witness a story that underscores the impact one individual can have in challenging injustice and effecting change.
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This article appears in April 2025.
