I grew up 50 miles from Nashville, Tennessee, and I attended the local premiere of Altman's great film there in 1975. (I had naively written to Altman the year before offering my services as an assistant for little or no pay; I was only 17, so this was unlikely to happen, and at any rate I never got a reply.) My friends and I absolutely loved the movie, and I envisioned it doing great box office and winning Oscars. But although it lasted three months at that first-run theater, many people in Nashville were less than thrilled with what they saw. “I guess we didn’t realize we were all so stupid,” said my parents, meaning the way locals are portrayed in the film. And Minnie Pearl was interviewed on the local news. “That’s not the Nashville that I’ve known and loved my whole life.”
And Minnie was right. Brilliant as the film is, it is not a realistic depiction of Nashville. It is a beautifully wrought, satirical fantasy, and it takes place in another city entirely — call it Altmanville — the place, in fact, where nearly all his films are set. I go back there to visit periodically, to see some of the finest, most unusual movies ever made. They form Mr. Altman’s legacy, and it’s a powerful one. He will be missed.
Article comments
1 - Pat Evans
"Nashville" is the one Altman film that I can watch time and again and still find something new. However I like your point that the movie is really set in Altmanville, like all of his films.
2 - tink
Very well thought out piece.
An interesting aside, Mr. Altman makes a brief appearance in the new Johnny Cash video for "God's Gonna Cut You Down."
3 - Lisa McKay
Congratulations -- this article has been chosen as an editor's pick this week!