The Last of the Sea Women

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The Last of the Sea Women

Released Oct 11

1h 27m

Documentary

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97%

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32 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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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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Sarah Vincent

Boston Movie News

a blend of human interest and nature documentary. Over time, it evolves into a narrative with a clear agenda, addressing not only climate change and everyday pollution but also the controversial release of treated wastewater from Japan’s Fukushima

Rated: B

Oct 22, 2024

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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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