Abstract
The study focuses on first full-length feature movie of Jiří Trnka, legendary Treasury from 1947 with emphasis on contemporary notion of folkness. The Treasury was created in period during which Czech society embraced folklorism, i. e. artistic re-creation of traditional folk culture.
The Treasury, one of the first Czechoslovak full-length feature films in full colour, presents folk culture of Czech countryside in six semi-independent parts: Shrovetide, Spring, Legend of St. Prokop, Fair, Feast and Bethlehem.
Main protagonist of all parts (excluding Legend of St. Prokop) is rural collective of stylized Czech village during the richest period of traditional folk culture, approximately during the first half of the 19th century.
Stylized villagers of various generations and professions take part - during changes of calendar year - in various festivities, feasts and games (and also a few working activities) which start several smaller plots - episodes of either humorous or serious nature. Main ideological message of the movies is unity and coherence of this rural community in time (during change of seasons and religious year) and space (in village itself and its immediate surroundings which are left only once during seasonal pilgrimage).
This time-space continuum of rural collective is enhanced by communal experiences during single episodes of the movie - both in form of physical interactions (Shrovetide masked processions, spring children's games, summer pilgrimage or dances during the feast) or communal receptions of various performances (listening to storytelling of legends in rural house, watching puppet show at the fair). This experience-based, sensual level in exactly defined time and space is enhanced by tradition - importance of folk customs and rituals and Catholic folk piety, framed by natural processes such as changing of day and night and seasons, as well as changes of weather and animal behavior (which all provide symbolic commentary to human activities).
The Treasury stands at the beginning of Trnka's signature works which embrace nationalistically reinterpreted folk culture.