Watch Yellow is Forbidden

Yellow is Forbidden is a fascinating and captivating documentary that intimately explores the life of Chinese fashion designer, Guo Pei, as she prepares for her anticipated unveiling at Paris’ Haute Couture Week. Directed and produced by Pietra Brettkelly, the film documents Guo Pei’s journey from conceiving her awe-inspiring designs to creating them piece by piece at her atelier in Beijing.

The film delves deep into the creative process of Guo Pei as she undertakes the mammoth task of preparing twenty-four handcrafted pieces for her haute couture collection, ‘Legend.’ The documentary initially introduces us to Guo’s childhood when her family moved to the mainland from Hong Kong when she was young. It is in her earliest years that we see her fascination with fashion design, and particularly, the magic of the unique pieces of clothing she would see her mother wear. Her mother’s fashion choices, in addition to the beauty of the Orient and the extravagance of Hollywood movies, fuelled her passion for fashion design.

The plot runs in Guo Pei’s successful career trajectory that led her to the pinnacle of the fashion industry. Through interviews and behind-the-scenes footage, we are exposed to the challenges she faced as an independent designer competing against the major fashion houses. Guo Pei captured the world’s attention at the height of her career when Rihanna selected her elaborate and most expensive creation, a bright yellow gown with a flowing train and embroidered designs that took her team of embroiders over two years to make, for the 2015 Met Gala in New York.

The film also turns a light to the inspiration behind Guo's creative designs. She sources her inspiration from a myriad of sources, including Chinese mythology, traditional techniques, and the beauty of nature. The viewer follows her on a meticulous and uncompromising journey to create the perfect design; a process that can take up to five months on one piece.

One of Guo’s designs, a majestic golden cape with train – designed with hundreds of pheasant feathers sewn together by hand - is an awe-inspiring sight to behold. The viewer is mesmerized at the level of craft and detail involved in the design and cannot help but be in awe of the majesty and pure grandness of this piece.

The film also offers a rare glimpse of the fashion industry in China, exploring the challenges she faced in starting her business in a rapidly evolving country where economic reforms and relaxed governmental restrictions have created a significant movement in the fashion industry. She challenges gender stereotypes and cultural conventions to create designs that inspire awe and admiration the world over.

What is engrossing about this documentary is the way in which it uncovers the continuity between China's culture and heritage and present-day haute couture fashion. Guo acknowledges the significance of preserving traditional Chinese techniques in her designs while staying relevant in a climate that is continually changing. Her creations capture the richness and diversity of China's culture and heritage while intertwining it with the unconventional, the bold, and the unexpected.

The key to Guo’s success, as is witnessed throughout the film, is her passion, dedication, and attention to detail. The viewer cannot help but fall in love with Guo Pei’s spirit and determination as she pours all her creativity and energy into her designs. The documentary is thought-provoking and inspiring, highlighting Guo Pei's journey as an artist and fully deserving of its fantastic reviews.

To sum up, Yellow is Forbidden is a beautifully shot and expertly executed documentary that expertly captures the life and creative process of a relatively unknown designer at the pinnacle of her career who has captured the world’s attention with her awe-inspiring designs. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in the fashion industry, arts, and culture, and an excellent insight into the world of haute couture.

Yellow is Forbidden is a 2019 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 34 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7.