Navillera (2021)

Heartwarming masterpiece!

Navillera is a drama that really makes you feel that it’s never too late to live out your dreams. It was emotional but at the same time so refreshing to watch, Deokchul and Chaerok’s relationship was so endearing and the actors played their roles so well. I’m glad Song Kang took upon the role as it really highlighted his versatility in acting. One thing that really stood out to me was I didn’t really have many expectations before I first watched and didn’t really expect to like it, but I couldn’t have been so wrong, as the drama really warms your heart. One of the best slice-of-life dramas I’ve watched in the recent years, definitely recommend (but be prepared to cry!).

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Love this drama right from the start

Excellent acting by all, great story line. Special praise for Park In Hwan who just makes this the most delightful story with his acting. You can feel yourself doing these things at his age. It is so motivational to see someone focused at an older age to achieve something new and so dramatically different from their regular lives. Comparing this to the naturally more self-centered youth is dealt with so well. Will update my review as I progress through the show but am in no hurry, just savouring each episode as they come.
This drama held its fascination for me right through to the end. Kudos to all involved for not losing steam but actually continuing to engage me even more. Thank you for this lovely experience.

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You're never going to be perfectly ready....

This is such a beautifully-written drama. Each episode moves you in such a way, that I could not help watch it with misty eyes. I cried not particularly because of something sad or tragic that happened, but because of touching moments like the dancing scenes at the end of episode 8 (Chae-Rok dances in the park in front of Deok-Chool) and episode 10 (Deok Chool dances on the road in front of Chae-Rok).

Similar to Start-Up and Run On, this is a drama about chasing your dream. But this one includes an old man. You are never too old to make your dream come true, as long as you have the will to try. “When you want something with all your heart, you shine brighter than anyone else” (episode 11).

It shows a beautiful relationship between a 70-year-old senior citizen and a 23-year-old young man, each struggling to make their dreams happen. What started as a teacher/student relationship eventually turned out to be more like a father/son (or perhaps grandfather/grandson) relationship.

First of all, I really do admire senior actor Park Im-Hwan (who in real life is 75 years old!) who took the role as Deok-Chool. I read that he has been acting for more that 50 years, and yet he humbly admitted that he learned so much from this drama, pairing with the young Song Kang. The chemistry with Na Moon He (his wife, Hae-Nam, in the drama) was also great. I read that they have played as a couple too many times that they found it so much easy to connect with each other in Navillera. Having read that, now I remember that I’ve watched them both in Miss Granny.

Deok-Chool was such a fatherly figure whose purpose in life seemed to be encouraging people to chase their dream. Not once did you see him being mad at his children (the family dynamics were interesting). When the youngest son, Seong-Gwan, decided to become a film-maker, and left his job as a medical doctor, he said nothing. When his eldest son, Seong-San (who was not a pleasant person to begin with) did a huge mistake at work, Deok-Chool gave him baseball gloves and told him to pursue what makes him happy. He was so supportive to his granddaughter, Eun-Ho, who had just begun to build her professional career. He even gave encouraging words to Ho-Beom, the antagonist. Of course, you would find more heart-warming dialogues between fatherly Deok-Chool and Chae-rok throughout the drama.

One of the best quotes from this drama was when Grandpa Deok-Chool told Bo-Heom: “You’re never going to be perfectly ready. Start now and get better 0ver time. Diver right in, even if you don’t feel ready”. Yes, whatever it is, follow your dream. We may be terrified to begin, but we had better take the first step.

Now I also want to give two thumbs up to Song Kang who brilliantly and beautifully portrayed the life of the aspiring ballerino, Chae-Rok. In the early episodes, Chae-Rok did sometimes come out as a difficult character, using harsh words to his fellow workers at the restaurant. He was also rude and nasty to grandpa Deok-Chool at the beginning stages of teaching ballet. He rarely smiled at the beginning and yet you still liked him. Perhaps because there was this subtle sadness on his face, and then knowing he had a strained relationship with his own father, that made you love and sympathize Chae-Rok.

I liked the fact that Song Kang took his role seriously by taking ballet lessons for six months before acting in this drama. This is one thing that I admire about him. I also liked it when Song Kang perfectly pronounced French ballet terms, such as devant, passe, releve lent. I look forward with great anticipation to see more dramas/movies with Song Kang’s wonderful acting in it.

The father/son dynamic between Deok-Chool and Chae-Rok was beautifully portrayed by showing how it growed stronger and stronger in each episode. You can just see that they both needed each other. They were both benefiting each other, not just on ballet, but on life and pursuing dreams. They were also thankful for having found each other, ending with a very touching airport scene in the final episode.

This is my first Korean drama to watch in 2021, with no romance, love triangles, or jealousy. This was more about chasing your dreams, soaring high, and developing human bonds regardless of age differences. A highly recommended drama to watch.

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Don't give up your dreams, it's never too late

One of the best dramas that came out this year! I never saw a drama so pure and beautiful than Navillera. The story captivates you since the beggining and looks like you are living with Deokchul. His background story is fascinating (and sad) and very inspiring.
Actually, the whole show is inspiring. After watching the first 4/6 episodes you will want to get up and start following your dreams.
The whole ideia it's give us the message that we can't live by fear and what the other people think about you.
Every single one of the family of Deokchul grown up.
The frienship with Cherok it's really different and beautiful. You can see how bouth help eachother.
The fotography, image and song it's a materpiece and THE BALLET really surprised me (in a good way).

Navillera it's a much watch k-drama!

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Incredibly Great

This drama took me by surprise. I just decided to watch the first episode because I new that the last 2 episodes were going to be shown soon. I fell in love with the 2 main characters. It felt like a father and son coming together. Both the characters change so many other characters in the story. An even the topic is sad but, I love how the writer and the director put it together. To use ballet as the back up to the topic was simply genius. I have not seen ballet since I was in high school and I had forgotten how wonderful and joyful it makes you feel when you watch it. To see how the 2 main characters come together and the love and friendship that develops. The trust that they have between them. How a family come together when one needs it the most. I think I cry just because I was happy to be watching it. We are all getting old and as we age we learn from the lessons we have gone thru. To share what we know with the a younger person and help them realize their dream is wonderful. The ending of this story was perfect. I love it. The actors performance was wonderful. Some of the best I have seen. The scrip and direction is also the best. I even love the music and is not something I critic while I am watching. One to put on your list.

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O que é vida se não marcar outras vidas?

Esse dorama foi tão lindo, só de escrever aqui já sinto vontade de chorar. Amei amei amei.
Foi tão delicado, emocionante e trouxe mensagens tão lindas. O Sr. Sim era a maior fofura do mundo e ele tinha tanto a ensinar. Que pessoa incrível!
O que não é a vida se não marcar outras vidas? E foi exatamente isso que o sr. Sim fez. Com toda a sua simplicidade ele tocou a vida de cada pessoa que passou por ele, simplesmente sendo gentil e percebendo a necessidade das pessoas a sua volta.
Essa história ensinou a valorizar as pessoas enquanto é tempo. A perceber a felicidade nas pequenas coisas. A ser perseverante. A olhar para aqueles ao seu redor. E tantas outras coisas.
Amei a jornada do sr. Sim em busca de seu sonho, sua perseverança, seu carinho e sua doçura. Ele mostrou que nunca é tarde para sonhar e que sempre é possível ser amável.
Também apreciei muito a história do Chae Rok e a amizade que ele desenvolveu com o senhor Sim. Ele teve uma mudança de atitude gradual conforme os episódios foram passando, mas sem perder sua essência.
Além disso os personagens secundários agregaram muito na história. A neta do sr. Sim tentando encontrar algo que amasse. O filho mais velho aprendendo a valorizar sua família. O filho mais novo passando por um processo de superação e aprendizado. O ex colega de futebol do Chae Rok percebendo que mesmo que a vida coloque empecilhos no seu caminho, você não precisa se tornar mais um obstáculo para ir atrás daquilo que sonha. O professor de balé percebendo que sua arrogância foi sua ruína. E tantos outros personagens que tiveram algo a acrescentar.
Enfim, esse dorama trouxe muitos ensinamentos e fez isso com muita emoção e delicadeza. Em nenhum momento a história pareceu forçada ou maçante. Cada episódio foi incrível. As atuações foram impecáveis, especialmente dos protagonistas. Fiquei impressionada em como o ator que interpretou o senhor Sim conseguiu trazer vida ao personagem, deixando ele tão genuíno.
Eu amei. Uma bela história foi contada e fico feliz por ter acompanhado ela.
"Dentro de mim eu sei, não ligo para o que as pessoas pensam, não vou desistir".
Esse dorama me ensinou e emocionou muito. É um dos melhores que eu já assisti. Vai deixar muita saudade!

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This was such a wholesome drama about how it's never too late to achieve your dreams. I was suggested to have a box of tissues close by when watching this and I would recommend you do as well because it will definitely be needed. I cried a few times and teared up a lot.

Mr. Sim and Chae Rok both inspired each other to move forward to achieve their dreams and they genuinely came to care for each other. Their relationship was such a wholesome growth from Chae Rok reluctantly teaching Mr. Sim to a familial bond between them as if they were really grandson and grandfather.

I don't regret watching this drama because it has been such a long time since I've seen a drama that wasn't centered around romance, mystery, or angst. It's so inspiring and I hope that more people will watch it because it really needs to be seen by so many people.

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Impressive emotional Humanitarian drama

Not too soon for a raving review for this master piece
It's such an amazing story with a really good heart warming scenes
It has everything that any human being needs
The family bonds , the unifamilial relations yet as strong as family
everybody's dream of achieving something in their lives even with old age you can't stop dreaming and trying to achieve that dream
Love in it's purest meaning ,,, the love that we all long for
also the director's respect for the grandfather ,, letting him dance in proper clothing not tight cloths as any ballerina wear
the lighting ,, the far angles in each dance not to show dancers body to respect every taste who watch the drama
turning the bully into a decent human in such little actions
this drama has such great subtle messages that give you warmth and feeling of decency
I love it so much
I recommend it to anyone who want to watch something not romantic yet full of lovely feelings

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The perfect drama for those who love pain

The reason I started watching this show is because I love watching ballet. I knew nothing about the story or synopsis but after a post I saw on Twitter after the first episode I just watched it without any expectations.

The best way to describe my feeling is: I was moved. Not just by the story, but especially by the characters. I could already tell this was going to be a crying fest for me and I wasn't wrong, so far all 8 of the episodes had me crying at least once.

This show keeps taking my heart on a rollercoaster ride! One moment it's bursting because of the touching moments, and the next it's breaking my heart into pieces! I have so much respect and admiration for Park In Hwang and Song Kang for making this drama so pure and intense.

I simply love seeing the development of their bond and how it develops their own personalities. They give each other strength, understanding and compassion. Their shared love for ballet is truly the most beautiful thing to see.

Also, can we please give a HUGE standing ovation for Song Kang's dancing?! His dedication to this role is out of this world.

As I'm writing this we still have 4 more episodes to go and I am both anticipating and dreading them, but in the best possible way!

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Most heartwarming drama I’ve ever watched

I have never been the one to write reviews but this deserves a review. When I tell you this is the most heartwarming story, it makes my heart ache with happiness but also sadness. This drama goes through deep messages of life and accurately depicts family in various scenarios. I cried so much because of how relatable and down to reality it was. Because it depicted reality, I was also scared of how accurate it was. I loved the cast. There is nothing about it that I didn’t like except for that it ended. Definitely worth a watch as you will definitely get something out of it. You will not regret it!

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