'Nora Noh' Poignantly Chronicles The Life Of Korea's Premier Fashion Designer
On April 29, the Korean Cultural Service of NY (KCSNY) will conclude their series Girl Power: Embracing What Matters with the 2013 documentary Nora Noh. Nora Noh is a retrospective documentary which examines the career of Nora Noh, a pioneer of Korean fashion. Contrary to the current philosophy of many current designers, Nora Noh has remained obstinate in her perspective that, “Clothes should behave like clothes. Clothes are not a work of art.” This ideal remains prominent throughout Nora Noh, a cinematic homage to a woman who dared to defy conventions of modesty, while helping to develop Korea's fashion-forward sensibility.
Directed by Kim Sung Hee, Nora Noh examines the harshness of life for women in Korea during World War II and the decades which followed. Nora Noh entered the fashion industry as a nineteen year old divorcee, whose arranged marriage was initiated to prevent Nora from becoming a “comfort woman." Following her divorce, she changed her name from Noh Myung Ja to Nora Noh in honor of the character from Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House. During a period where the Korean women were restricted to careers choices such as being a housewife or factory worker, Nora began to pave a path for Korean women to become more liberated through fashion. As the perspective in Korea regarding work evolved, Nora Noh seized the opportunity to create unique ready-to-wear clothing for career women. The designs of Nora Noh reflect practicality and functionality, including reinterpretations of the hanbok.
Nora Noh narrates the documentary with the world weary voice of an octogenarian, which adds to the ambiance of the film. Her unique perspective is best examined during the climax of the film, as tensions mount over modifications that curators of her retrospective wish to make. During these periods of quiet conflict, Nora displays frustration at the fact that her opinion has started to fall upon deaf ears. Her obsolescence in the Korean fashion world becomes apparent through these subtle exchanges, forcing viewers to feel empathy for an otherwise strong woman.
At the peak of her career, the designs of Nora Noh were featured on the cover of Vogue. Nora Noh was also the first Korean designer to have her clothing showcased by Macy's. She was the go-to designer for the wives of Korean diplomats and played a critical role in outfitting prominent entertainers. Although, her biography is unique to the Korean experience, the designs of Nora Noh withstand the test of time in their Mad Men era appeal. Nora Noh is a fashion film whose strong feminist message can touch the hearts of all audiences. Nora Noh will be presented by the Korean Cultural Service of NY at Tribeca Cinema on April 29 at 7PM.
Run Time: 93 Minutes Not Rated
