I mistakenly thought the title “Navillera” was Spanish in origin, but it was apparently a word coined by a Korean poet.
Here’s what I found on the internet. (Note: The only edit I made was replacing the word “tonsure” for “cowl.”)
… “Navi” (or Nabi – b and v are not distinguished in Korean) means butterfly….
That is a phrase in the poet Cho Ji-hoon(1920-1968)’s famous poem “The Monk’s Dance” (Seungmoo). Despite of its title it usually danced by a woman.
What happens is a dancer, wearing a Buddhist nun’s garb, dances to her heart. In the old times when Cho was around, a real Buddhist nun would dance it; nowdays it is no longer that case, but at that time the nun would have shaved her hair, like all Korean Buddhist nuns do.
At that time women had fewer opportunities, so those who had lost their husbands and had no place to go, or otherwise had no options, ended up shaving their heads to become Buddhist nuns so it is implied that their dances are supposed to express the turmoils of their lives, which are transformed into art.
The first line of this poem, known to older Koreans since it used to be taught in the school but probably not familiar to younger people including GFriend members, goes like this:얇은 사(紗) 하이얀 고깔은 고이 접어서 나빌레라.
Yalbeun Sa Haiyan Gokkaleun Goi Juboso Navillera
(Thin robes and lily-white cowl, folded carefully, are Fluttering)Cowl is a cap worn by nuns, showing they no longer have anything to do with the real world. In Korea Buddhist nuns go around with their shaved heads, and cowls are only worn when doing something formal, like dancing this kind of stuff.
This word navillera, invented in this poem by the poet, means something fluttering. The poet never explained what that word meant, but critics say that word shows the transformation of the hat, an inanimate object, into a butterfly, a live object. So it is like ‘butterfly-like’, but not butterfly itself.
Because the word sounds good, it is sometimes used to describe small and cute things flying around.
It is likely that some of the dance routines will resemble the Monk’s dance in traditional Korean way. If someone is interested you can look up ‘Korean Buddhist Dance’ I won’t post it since some of you may not like the traditional Korean Buddhist music used to do this dance.
In short, Navillera means small things fluttering in traditional Korean monk’s dance….credit: Yknok
source: https://onehallyu.com/topic/356257-gfriend-and-navillera/
Here’s the Youtube clip of the Korean Buddhist Dance mentioned in the post.
Here are screenshots of the Buddhist nun dancing with the sleeves of her robe fluttering in the air.
Here’s the rest of the poem as found in Wikipedia. Translation by Jaihiun Kim.
Folded delicately to shape
The fine gauze white cowl
Wavers gently.The bluish head shaved close
Is veiled under the tenuous cowl.
The glow in the cheeks
Graces her in her sorrow.The wax candle quietly burns in an empty hall,
And the moon sinks into every paulownia leaf.Her long sleeves against the vast heaven
Billow up as if on the wing.
O how shapely her white socks match her movement!She raises her dark eyes to gaze
On a star in the far off sky.Her cheeks fair as peach blossoms
Are stained with a tear-drop or two.
In the face of worldly cares
Her suffering shines like a star.Her arms swaying and turning,
Folding and unfolding, tell
Of her devout prayer at heart.When the very crickets cry through the midnight
The fine gauze white cowl wavers
Gently, delicately folded into shape.
Phew! That’s the background information on the word “navillera.”
Now, here’s how I think it’s used in the drama.
1. Chaerok’s ballet, obviously
The poet Cho Jihoon was describing a dancer who moved like a butterfly. Her long sleeves billowed in the air as if she’d grown wings instead of arms. Although Chaerok was dancing Western ballet, not a traditional Buddhist dance, he looked like a butterfly as he floated in the air with his chaînés, jetes, cabrioles, and double tours. But unlike garden variety butterfly, he was a steel butterfly. There was tempered strength and power in his graceful dancing. (I wonder who the body double was.)
2. The word underscored the fleetingness of life.
To me, there were at least two visual moments when this point carried across, and both times involved the grandpa Deokchul.
The first was in the opening scene when the grandpa Deokchul walked between two rows of funeral bouquets then stood before the floral arrangement for his dead friend. I pictured him flitting like a butterfly in the Eternal Garden.
Then, he joined his cronies as they took attendance of who was absent from their group.
They laughed to hear that a friend was living in Canada to take care of his grandchild, but nodded in agreement at the quip that at their age, they were either wearing diapers or changing their grandkids’ diapers. When one of them wondered why he wasn’t crying at the passing away of their dear friend, Deokchul observed, “As you get older you get used to goodbyes.”
The unstated sentiment here was death didn’t have long to wait for them, too.
The second time was when he visited his old friend Gyoseok at the nursing home. For a brief moment, the camera showed him walking beside a field of wildflowers. Again, I visualize him as a butterfly flitting in a garden.
A speeding car honked, and he moved out its way, like a butterfly darting away.
At the nursing home, Gyoseok shared with him his most fervent wish to sail on ship in search of a whale, and his deepest regret that he didn’t find time to do it. Then, he urged his friend, “What about you? Do you have any long-cherished wish? The time is now, Deokchul. It’s still not too late for you. While your legs are strong and your head is clear, do what you’ve always wanted to do.”
Gyoseok’s words struck me as urgent, and it mirrored and reinforced the sense of urgency created when the speeding car honked at Deokchul earlier. He had been ambling up the road, and paying no heed to traffic until the car came and honked at him. And now, Gyoseok was doing the same thing. Gyoseok sounded the alarm that time was running out. Deokchul couldn’t simply stroll for the rest of his life when there must be something that he had yet to accomplish before he died.
I think that’s why Gyoseok called him out of the blue.
DC: What is it?
GS: Deokchul, what are you up to? Are you not coming today?
DC: Are you out of candy? I can’t today, but I’ll be there next week.
GS: Don’t throw it away, okay?
DC: What?
GS: Don’t throw it away.
DC: Gyoseok.
GS: Get me some ginger candy. (hangs up)
Gyoseok meant that he shouldn’t throw away his dream. Deokchul shouldn’t waste his remaining time NOT doing what he always dreamt to do.
3. The paper boat was a navillera, too.
Gyoseok ripped pages from a brochure and folded them into a paper boat. He then went to his balcony with the paper boat in his hands and tossed it into the open air.
I like the way he cupped his hands and released the paper boat. It looked like he was releasing something fragile like a butterfly to the open air.
To me, it’s this moment when the paper boat captured the essence of a navillera. It was transformed into something that was butterfly-like. It resembled the fluttering sleeves and cowl of the dancing nun.
And just like the nun’s dance expressed a “devout prayer at heart,” Gyoseok’s paper boat represented his “long-cherished wish.” He prayed, “Forward! Sail forward! I’m sailing out into the ocean. Into the vast, endless ocean!”
Then, the paper boat crashed-landed onto the pavement of the parking lot.
4. The Butterfly Effect
Let’s make this a general rule for kdramas, okay? Whenever you see a butterfly used in the drama, like here beside the title.
you must activate the “butterfly effect” trope.
Grandpa Deokchul caught a glimpse of Chaerok dancing in an empty. He was so moved by his artistry that he was inspired to take up ballet himself at the age of 70. Of course, he couldn’t have predicted that pursuing ballet at this late stage in life would have a profound impact on the dynamics of his family.
And that’s where the “butterfly effect” trope comes in. This brief encounter between him and Chaerok would change him, and from his small change, much bigger changes would arise in the future.
For one, I’m sure his wife would look at him differently. It seems to me that she’d been the controlling one in the family. During his birthday, for example, his granddaughter Eunho asked him what his birthday wish was.
While he was still formulating his thoughts, his wife already answered for him.
Wife: First of all, he wishes for his children’s good health and success. Second, he hopes he can stay healthy so that he won’t become a burden for you. Just those two. Eun-ho, there’s nothing else that people at our age wish for. Right, honey?
DC: Well, that’s right.
It should be interesting to see how his determination to take up ballet would change their marital relationship.
For another, I’m looking forward to see Chaerok’s life transformed because he had Grandpa Deokchul with him. I’m sure their manager/student relationship would have positive effect on both of them…which brings me to the fifth and last meaning of navillera in this drama.
5. Rekindling the passion
Chaerok was said to be in a “slump.” It was no wonder since he was weighed down by his ambiguous relationship with his father, bothered by his former teammates, and detached from everybody else.
Emotionally, he wasn’t in a good place, and this naturally affected the way he danced. Although he could perform the technical aspect of the dance, he couldn’t animate the choreography with his soul. He was no longer feeling the beauty of his art. He had lost the passion he had for the dance when he first came as a student.
For me, then, navillera means breathing life again into his dancing. Just like how the poem described the nun dancing her worldly cares and sufferings as an offering to the heavens, he was going to take his own worldly cares and sufferings, and make them a source of inspiration and joy for others.
This way, even if his ballet career was cut short, he could say that he had lived his dream to the fullest…in the amount of time that was given to him. To me, both he and the grandpa Deokchul were about to experience the fleeting lifespan of a butterfly, either artistically or biologically. But since they have each other’s companionship, life was about to become more meaningful and bearable.
There you have it: my “first impressions” of this kdrama. I don’t have time to review each episode, but I’ll open a thread for you all and pop in whenever I can. Thankfully, the drama (apart from the title) isn’t that complicated to understand.
Thanks, nrllee, Fern, Old American Lady and (somebody else…hmmm…who’s that person??) for recommending this drama.
Thank you for this introduction, @packmule3. 🦋 @Welmaris is probably the person you were thinking of.
The character of Deokchul is so delicately acted from the first moments. I hope that those watching will enjoy it as much as I have so far.
It was me, @PM3! 😊
Thank you the beautiful write up of your first impressions. I did not have time to check on the title (the story line is simple as you said) as my head was wrapped around Sisyphus at that time and I was using this drama to decompress. LOL! It’s an interesting read and I learned something new again.
You’ve captured most of the essence of the show in just 1 ep which is amazing! As we went through the other episodes, the only thing I would add in your list is that Navillera also represents the fleetingness of memory.
Will share more thoughts later. Cheers!!!
Apologies, @Janey, I missed you as another viewer.
Despite the family and friend conflicts and the many difficulties all of the characters face, I am somehow finding serenity in this drama. Maybe it’s only me and just my frame of mind right now.
No worries @Fern! I also saw Welmaris recommending it. The more, the merrier!
Yes, I also find this show calming and lives up to the “healing” drama category. It’s emotional (got teary eyed many times) but somehow cathartic.
@packmule3, You so beautifully stated the themes of this drama. Huge thanks for including the poem and background. Life is truly fleeting. When we’re young, time seems to stand still-we have all the time in tne world and mostly, we don’t use it wisely. When we age time seems to travel in light years and we hopethat before agecdisruptsbour bodies and minds, wecan experience life’sjoys andbour hopes. This drama outs it all in perspeftive. And it doen’t go for the grandiose. I’d live to sit quietly near the grandfather onhis outdoor couchto find solace and to dream the most beautiful, approachable ballet dances (this drama certainly “high”culture available. I saw my first ballet when I was in junior high. I went as a gift from two college students, who were on a summer social work internship) who were boarding in my great aunt’s house. My great aunt and I loved the experience-it made me a fan.O ne of tbe Prima ballerinas was Maria Tallchief and the Primo Ballerino was Jaques D’Ambvoise(sic).
One final thought about the beauty found in K Dramas-they bring the classical arts to life-in music,literature and dance. And people are notbput off by the subject matter. To use another country-in Italy, opera is for all people (as seen in Vincenzo)-so all of this doesn’t have to be snooty(shout out to Youn Yuh-jung), And for me on Superficial Islandin “dirty old lady” mode, how beautuful is Song Kang’sNd his body double?!
Great write up @packmule3. The writer of this show is really adept at balancing all the aspects of the story. Honestly there are so many moving parts in the drama – mainly because all the characters have such varied lives and are in different stages of their life. Yet somehow it all comes together. She captures the mundane everyday moments and squabbles as is, with no histrionics. And she never dwells too long on poignant issues in life but just presents them in their raw form. The struggles of a mother and her identity leaving work and caring for her child, of growing old and finding purpose when so much of your former life is tied up with the dreams of others, of new beginnings when the old dreams don’t fulfil you like they did before. And there’s that couch in the courtyard. Where relationships were forged and repaired. Quietly. As family members sat side by side and worked through issues. I realized that it worked because they could talk in the open space (not enclosed which often tends to exacerbate differences) and not facing each other (which would be confrontational). It lends itself to reflection and contemplation.
I am on to Ep8 now with this drama and it’s beautiful. Painful but beautiful. I guess that’s ballet isn’t it? Every ballet dancer dances through the pain. There’s never a time when they are without pain. Yes to wanting to know who is SongKang’s body double. The end scene in Ep8 was glorious. As SongKang dances in the snow leading Haraboji back from his brain fog. It is said that as Alzheimer’s eats away at your brain, things like music and dance remain. Muscle memory. Long may Haraboji dance even as the disease makes its unrelenting march to the end. And long may CR dance on the stage as he remembers the chance meeting of an old man who brought so much into his life. May he and Haraboji’s family remember even as Haraboji forgets. ❤️
There may be a body double used to show some of Chaerok’s more advanced leaps, but other times it is Song Kang we see and he moves beautifully. When he danced at the end of episode 8 to try to connect with Mr. Sim’s memory, he brought tears to my eyes, fuzzy jacket and sneakers notwithstanding. Turns out Song Kang studied ballet only 5-6 months in preparation for his role in Navillera, not having studied it before. Good for him as an actor to convince us viewers he’s a dancer. His dancing…SJK’s speaking Italian as Vincenzo…Hyun Bin playing piano as former concert pianist Capt. Ri in Crash Landing on You…the 99ers playing instruments in a band in Hospital Playlist…they all make us believe because the actors work hard getting ready for their roles then perform with confidence.
Guess what the collective noun for butterflies is?
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Kaleidoscope!! Isn’t that so appropriate?
Someone in Soompi (mistymorning) highlighted to me that the body double is none other than Kim Myung-yoon.
https://www.instagram.com/free_yun93_/
@packmule3 that’s so appropriate as a collective term. Btw if you haven’t checked, Miracle23 and I have sent you emails.
Ahhh thank you pm3 for the great write up! 💖💖💖 Navillera is so beautiful and cryfest drama haha i cried every episode and bawled on ep7 😭😭
Kalimera Everyone!
Thank you @packmule3 for this post!
I want to watch Navillera but it it not open to our region yet.
Tugs at the heartstrings, right? A good cry cleanses our spirits and … tear ducts. I’ve spring allergies.
@nrllee, looking at his insta account, Kim Myung-yoon will soon have a large following as well. The photos of him doing ballet with the two toddlers is adorable. The casting director did well to find someone with a similar body type to the ML.
Thanks, nrllee. Kim Myung-Yoon. I couldn’t scroll through his Instagram because I don’t have an Instagram account. 😂
Yes, just read the emails. Thanks. Will consider options available.
@packmule3, I cheat because I signed up for Instagram but never post. 😉 Just have it to look at things I’m sent by certain bloggers (you know who you are). 😊
Ah! Impermanence of memory too? So you mean Grandpa is in early stages of Alzheimer’s?
NPR had an article about an Alzheimer’s patient dancing the Odette role in “Swan Lake.” The NPR couldn’t find proof that she was from the New York City Ballet as was claimed in the video. But it doesn’t matter to me. Whether she was prima ballerina in a top ballet company or not, she knew the choreography and possessed the artistry as only a prima ballerina would. In fact with her fragile bones and old skin, she gave me a new insight on the pending Odette’s death.
Watch it here:
https://www.npr.org/2020/11/10/933387878/struck-with-memory-loss-a-dancer-remembers-swan-lake-but-who-is-she
What if Swan Lake wasn’t merely about a romance about a woman and a Prince but an allegory about life and death? Death is the curse that we humans try to escape, like Odette.
Yes @PM3, he has Alzheimer’s and has been taking copious notes in a notebook to remind him and to establish habits by rote as advised by his doctor. He has not told his family about his affliction. There was an interesting “twist” (more of a “click” as the puzzle pieces fit) in Ep8 on why he was really pursuing ballet now. Thanks for the link on the NPR article!
In ep7, they also showed an elder balllerina in a wheelchair who continues to dance and “soar” and how they incorporated that in the performance. These were touching moments, like a kaleidoscope of butterflies that make this show “warm” and comforting.
Thanks, Janey.
I’m almost done with Episode 3. I was able to watch this and another drama last night. “Red-eye” flight was aptly named. I have red eyes from unshed tears. 🙂
I don’t cry during romcoms but when it comes to movies with the elderly, I’m more susceptible to tears. Probably because I miss my parents and grandparents.
BTW, we’re beginning a rewatch of Hospital Playlist after Start-Up. You might want to keep your Saturdays open, if you’re a Flower Gardener. I’ll post more news later.
One other exemplary thing about kdramas is how they incorporate the elderly in the stories, often as leads themselves (Radiant, Dear My Friends). Like you, I cry more on their scenes.
Yay, the Saturday rewatch continues!!! I love HP. Count me in!
Just a small comment about HP. We Flower Gardeners will have to contend with the Winter Gardeners because our “favorite” resident will be returning. I hope we don’t have to go through shipping wars(such a waster of time and energy). I saw the table read on YouTube. Nevertheless,am still looking forward to the new season.
@packmule3-Thank you-I love fun facts!
@pkml3, @Janey, I’m starting on Hospital Playlist. Perhaps I’ll join you for your re-watch of that show.
Kalimera @Packmule3 @Janey @GB!
I am currently watching Dr. Romantic, so I will try to watch Hospital Playlist, so as to hop in for that rewatch too…
I will do that for Yoo Yeon Seok, who is great as Dr. Kang Dong Joo… I want to see him perform in HP too.
Hey @Cleo! That would be great. We can continue our re-watch party!
Yeah @GB!
That would be great indeed!
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I am loving this program – I am up to episode 8, am I allowed to discuss spoilers?
In any case I failed the test of remembering 3 objects and then doing it backwards after a break.
Jo3edc