It’s not easy encapsulating the career of iconic documentarian and Boston area legend Frederick Wiseman, who has been creating groundbreaking cinematic masterpieces since the late 1960s. Nevertheless, five local organizations are attempting to do just that by screening some of the prolific filmmaker’s best-known works at a variety of venues from March 1 to May 20. The Brattle Theatre, Coolidge Corner Theatre, Independent Film Festival Boston (IFFBoston), Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) and Somerville Theatre combine forces to showcase 33 classic films, many of them newly restored under Wiseman’s supervision. The MFA opens the proceedings on March 1 at 1:30 p.m. with 1967’s still-controversial Titicut Follies (pictured), an unflinching look at the inner workings of a mental institution that served as Wiseman’s debut. Other highlights include such landmarks as Hospital (1969) at the Brattle on March 3, High School (1968) at the Coolidge on April 1, Zoo (1993) presented by IFFBoston on April 27 and Public Housing (1997) at the Somerville Theatre on May 20.
