A Certain Mr Rascal

The film Treasure (Buczkowski, 1949) unfolds against a backdrop of communist upheaval in post-World War II Poland. Despite the presence of Soviet troops in the country, the romantic comedy cleverly avoids any direct references to the USSR. The comedic element carries a subtle propaganda dimension, skilfully employing music reminiscent of the pre-war era, notably the foxtrot. Infusing dance rhythms with chaotic sounds creates a noisy revolutionary anxiety, expected to be followed by tranquillity, music, and love. Deliberate concealment of Soviet culture during the peak of the struggle for the new political system intriguingly helped present the new regime as native, underscoring a commitment to the continuity of Polish culture and Poland’s attachment to the West. In Treasure , expectation and hope are intertwined with noise and heteroglossia; sonoclash is a kind of a moral crusade. American-inspired music is a bridge, leading from a state of uncertainty to a new and reassuring situation. The film’s protagonist, Mr Rascal, functions as both a catalyst and a model, embodying contradictory sounds. The rapid socio-political changes are assimilated through a skilfully crafted sonic landscape.