Nashville (dir. R. Altman, 1975, USA, 159 mins., R)

Following 24 characters through five days in the country music capital, Altman’s 1975 epic is a wry critique of the politics of celebrity and celebrity as politics in American culture. The explosive drama features Lily Tomlin as a lonely married gospel singer, Shelley Duvall as a pragmatic groupie, and a young Scott Glenn as a soldier in need of an entertainment escape, among many others. Sweeping in scope, sharply observant of its subjects, and driven by a powerful soundtrack, the film garnered five Oscar nominations and has been called “unmissable,” “challenging,” and “tender.” Shown in 35 mm.