Best revival of an arcane Russian term
Back in tsarist Russia, the art-parched locals would look forward to the arrival of the balagans, roving theater troupes that would impart the latest in free expression and thrilling entertainment. In these days of canned movie sequels and cable TV, the closest we might get to that experience is the Balagan Experimental Film & Video Series in the Coolidge Corner Screening Room. It was founded in 2000 by Jeff Silva and Alla Kovgan, two local filmmakers who saw no reason why the public at large shouldn't be exposed to the delights and revelations of independent and avant-garde filmmaking. Among recent screenings have been retrospectives of the works of the late Stan Brakhage; a program of shorts by Peter Kubelka, including an appearance by the legendary filmmaker himself; a series called "Film As Subversive Art," after the groundbreaking book by critic Amos Vogel; and a special program tied in with the Jewish Film Festival. Heady stuff for an age in which cinema's biggest crisis is the future of Ben Affleck's career.

The Balagan Experimental Film & Video Series at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard Street, Brookline, (617) 734-2501; www.coolidge.org/balagan/index.htm.