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The Last of the Sea Women

Play trailer 1:56 Poster for The Last of the Sea Women 2024 1h 26m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 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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The Last of the Sea Women

Critics Reviews

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Esther Zuckerman Bloomberg News Jul 1
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. Go to Full Review
Tim Cogshell FilmWeek (LAist) 11/04/2024
Fascinating, absolutely fascinating... It's too long, but that's okay. Go to Full Review
Geordie Gray The Australian 10/21/2024
Though the documentary could – forgive me – dive deeper, an hour and a half in the company of these wisened women is time well spent. Go to Full Review
Jericho Tadeo The Asian Cut Aug 2
The collection of women Kim focuses on are some of the most inspiring people I’ve seen on the screen this year [2024]. Go to Full Review
Lauren Hayataka The Asian Cut Jul 23
4/5
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. Go to Full Review
Loren King Newport This Week (RI) Mar 8
A lively and illuminating look at a vanishing way of life. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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CadeandKit R @CadeandKit Dec 10 This one hit us square in the chest. Quietly powerful. Unexpectedly moving. And yes… Cade cried. Produced by Extracurricular Productions, founded by Malala Yousafzai. It’s giving power to stories that need to be told and this one is unforgettable. The documentary captures exhaustion, dignity, tradition, and quiet strength. These women aren’t doing it for legacy or attention. They’re doing it because it’s who they are. And it’s beautiful. See more Victoria P Jan 23 Loved it, very moving. See more Ignacio S Jan 9 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. See more Eric N 12/05/2024 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. See more Tom F 11/22/2024 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. See more Read all reviews
The Last of the Sea Women

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Movie Info

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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