At a time when cities are overrun with franchise coffeehouses and froyo joints, cultural landmarks are to be cherished. But Kansas City almost lost one when Tivoli Cinemas closed last April. A refuge from superhero flicks, the Westport multiplex remained dedicated for decades to presenting indie and international films and had attracted a devoted following of discriminating moviegoers — who were alarmed at what seemed to be its demise.

Cinematic adventure, intrigue, tragedy, romance — and a bit of classic Brando to boot. You won’t find it streaming on Netflix or Hulu, at least not with the kind of expertly curated context and additional live commentary available for free at a variety of winter film series and screenings scheduled at area museums and cultural institutions.