The Last of the Sea Women

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The Last of the Sea Women

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1h 27m

Documentary

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33 Reviews

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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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Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

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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Randy Myers

San Jose Mercury News

It's one worth taking in.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 16, 2024

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Louisa Moore

Screen Zealots

I love learning new things about the world, and “The Last of the Sea Women” is an emotional journey that leaves you fervently rooting for the preservation of these gutsy and noble female warriors of the sea.

Nov 24, 2024

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John Serba

Decider

The Last of the Sea Women errs on the side of touchy-feely, successfully capturing the spirit of the haenyeo while also letting contextual data fall to the wayside.

Nov 11, 2024

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Wade Major

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

They really are an inspiration.

Nov 4, 2024

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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

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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

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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 27m

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