The Last of the Sea Women

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The Last of the Sea Women

2024

1h 26m

Documentary

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Popcornmeter

97%

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37 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

In "The Last of the Sea Women," an extraordinary band of feisty grandmother warriors wage a spirited battle against vast oceanic threats. Often called real-life mermaids, the haenyeo divers of South Korea's Jeju Island are renowned for centuries of diving to the ocean floor -- without oxygen -- to harvest seafood for their livelihood. Today, with most haenyeo now in their 60s, 70s and 80s, their traditions and way of life are in imminent danger. But these fierce, funny and hardworking women refuse to give an inch, aided by a younger generation's fight to revive their ancestral lifestyle through social media. Peering into what drives haenyeo young and old, this moving documentary zeroes in on their tight-knit friendships, savvy independence and infectious sense of empowerment. The story unfolds into an uplifting tale of women taking on world powers to protect their beloved ocean and inspire a new generation.

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Esther Zuckerman

Bloomberg News

It’s a visually stunning portrait of a group of funny, passionate women. Yes, it could stand to be a little more rigorous, but it’s a breezy introduction to a fascinating world.

Jul 1, 2025

Full Review

Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (LAist)

Fascinating, absolutely fascinating... It's too long, but that's okay.

Nov 4, 2024

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Geordie Gray

The Australian

Though the documentary could – forgive me – dive deeper, an hour and a half in the company of these wisened women is time well spent.

Oct 21, 2024

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Jericho Tadeo

The Asian Cut

The collection of women Kim focuses on are some of the most inspiring people I’ve seen on the screen this year [2024].

Aug 2, 2025

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Lauren Hayataka

The Asian Cut

The film lingers in the quiet: the ripple of water, the sharp breath before a dive, the scrape of conch shells in calloused hands. These details don’t just shape the documentary—they make it pulse with life.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 23, 2025

Full Review

Loren King

Newport This Week (RI)

A lively and illuminating look at a vanishing way of life.

Mar 8, 2025

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Victoria P

Loved it, very moving.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/23/25

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Ignacio S

More Politics Than Anything Else A documentary film about a group of female divers, most of them elderly, from South Korea. They dive without any kind of assistance to collect seafood. It has all the basics you’d expect in these cases: interviews with different protagonists, basic information about how long this tradition has existed, how it continues today, etc. You might find it more or less interesting overall; personally, it didn’t catch my attention at all. The main problem arises when they mention that this group has partnered with the United Nations, throw in some low-quality meetings about the Fukushima issue, and, finally, showcase the waste of taxes and the time politicians spend padding their agendas. You’re not missing anything by skipping this documentary.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/09/25

Full Review

Eric N

As with most people who take the time to watch this fascinating documentary, I knew nothing about "haenyeos" beforehand, but I learned a lot in just 90 minutes. Yes, it's challenging to summarize a tradition that began nearly 2,000 years ago in such a short timeframe, but I think the filmmakers did an excellent job. For me, the documentary provided a riveting introduction to a way of life that's on the verge of extinction due to a number of factors. I especially enjoyed meeting the two younger haenyeos who not only share their "aunties'" passion for the profession, but may also be able to convince a younger generation to carry on the tradition. Overall, The Last Of The Sea Women is an emotional, educational and beautifully filmed introduction to a group of amazing women whose story I truly enjoyed hearing.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/05/24

Full Review

Tom F

Based on my experience with Apple documentaries and the lack of promotion for this, I had extremely low expectations. But I really enjoyed it, both for the touching way it deals with the subject and what it has to say about being human in the modern world.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/22/24

Full Review

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Sue Kim

Director

Sue Kim

Producer

Malala Yousafzai

Producer

Erika Kennair

Producer

Nicole Stott

Executive Producer

Emily Osborne

Executive Producer

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The Last of the Sea Women: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

In "The Last of the Sea Women," an extraordinary band of feisty grandmother warriors wage a spirited battle against vast oceanic threats. Often called real-life mermaids, the haenyeo divers of South Korea's Jeju Island are renowned for centuries of diving to the ocean floor -- without oxygen -- to harvest seafood for their livelihood. Today, with most haenyeo now in their 60s, 70s and 80s, their traditions and way of life are in imminent danger. But these fierce, funny and hardworking women refuse to give an inch, aided by a younger generation's fight to revive their ancestral lifestyle through social media. Peering into what drives haenyeo young and old, this moving documentary zeroes in on their tight-knit friendships, savvy independence and infectious sense of empowerment. The story unfolds into an uplifting tale of women taking on world powers to protect their beloved ocean and inspire a new generation.

Director: Sue Kim
Producer: Sue Kim, Malala Yousafzai, Erika Kennair
Distributor: Apple TV+
Production Co: A24, Apple TV+
Genre: Documentary
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 11, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 11, 2024
Runtime: 1h 26m

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