The tradition of South Korean haenyeo is now being brought to the big screen.
Director/executive producer Sue Kim helms the highly-anticipated A24 and Apple documentary “The Last of the Sea Women,” which centers on elderly women divers. Peabody Award nominee Kim captures the haenyeo, who are called real-life mermaids, for the feature.
The official synopsis reads: “In ‘The Last of the Sea Women,’ an extraordinary band of feisty grandmother warriors wage a spirited battle against vast oceanic threats. 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, hardworking women refuse to give an inch, aided by a younger generation’s fight to revive their ancestral lifestyle through social media.”
It continues: “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, unfolding into an uplifting tale of women taking on world powers to protect their beloved ocean and inspiring a new generation.”
The film is produced by activist Malala Yousafzai through her production company Extracurricular Productions, along with Erika Kennair. Nicole Stott, Emily Osborne, Harry Go, and Marissa Torres Ericson serve as executive producers through A24.
Kim previously directed Netflix short film “Speed Cubers.”
“The Last of the Sea Women” will premiere at TIFF 2024 as part of the Docs Program on Sunday, September 8. The TIFF Documentary selection will open with “Vice Is Broke,” in which “Huang’s World” journalist Eddie Huang investigates his former employer’s rise and fall into bankruptcy. Additional titles at the festival include R. J. Cutler’s “Elton John: Never Too Late” and Thom Zimmy’s “Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.”
TIFF documentary programmer Thom Powers told IndieWire’s Anne Thompson that “The Last of the Sea Women” captures a distinct moment in time when a tradition is on the brink of disappearing from South Korean culture.
“It’s a long tradition of women who are doing free diving without an oxygen tank to collect sea creatures to sell in the market,” Powers said. “This was a thriving culture for generations. It’s now aging out. Most of the women who do it are in their 60s and 70s, so it’s unclear if this tradition has a future.”
He added: “Documentaries often reflect the times we live in. The subjects of the films are still making headlines even as we’re approaching the festival.”
“The Last of the Sea Women” premieres October 11 on Apple TV+. Check out the trailer below.
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