The Czech Year

The first feature length puppet film of Jiří Trnka poetically reveals folk customs and traditions of the Czech countryside that have been preserved for centuries.

Špalíček
Czechoslovakia 1947
  • English
77 min.
Přístupný
  • This film is available until 31. 12. 2025 in these territories: Czechia, Slovakia.
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About

A kind of cinematic suite based on Aleš’s “Collection of National Folk Songs”, it is made up of six related parts, each set in a different season. A lyrical narrative acted out by simple puppets is underlain by the music of Václav Trojan with motifs from folk songs sung by the children of Kühn’s choir. The motion-picture, awarded the Gold Medal at the IFF in Venice, came about by joining six originally independent short films (Carnival, Spring, The Legend of St. Prokop, The Fair, The Feast and Bethlehem).

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Credits
Director: Jiří Trnka
Screenplay: Jiří Trnka
Cinematography: Vladimír Novotný, Emanuel Franek
Music: Václav Trojan
Sound: Josef Zavadil
Editing: Jiří Trnka, Helena Lebdušková
Production Design: Jiří Trnka
Producer: Jaroslav Jílovec
Cast:
Awards

Venice Film Festival

1948 – Jiří Trnka (Best Puppet Film)

Links
  • This film is available until 31. 12. 2025 in these territories: Czechia, Slovakia.