The Last of the Sea Women
(USA, 87 min.)
Dir. Sue Kim
Programme: TIFF Docs (World premiere)
Directed by Sue Kim and produced by Malala Yousafzai, The Last of the Sea Women dives into the world of haenyeo, the women who have been gathering seafood off the coast of South Korea’s small Jeju Island for centuries. A job too arduous for men, these women have put their hearts and souls into the often dangerous work that feeds entire communities.
Kim, who began her career as a commercial producer for award-winning brand campaigns for the likes of Nike and Adidas, proves her directing chops here. Shooting underwater is never an easy feat, but it results in some of the film’s most breathtaking scenes. Kim showcases the vastness of the ocean and landscape through sprawling overhead shots, while scaling down to fully capture the intimacy within this tight-knit community. Kim and cinematographers Eunsoo Cho, Justin Turkowski, and Canada’s own Iris Ng have made a beautiful documentary.
Given their line of business, climate change is, of course, one of the heartbreaking realities faced by haenyeo. The ocean is not as bountiful as it once was, there are heaps of plastic washing up on the shore, and marine life has largely disappeared from shallow waters. That last shift is perhaps most felt as the women only rely on their breath (haenyeo don’t believe in using oxygen tanks) and the deeper one must go, the riskier it becomes. The Last of the Sea Women isn’t necessarily an environmental documentary right from the jump, but it quickly turns into one. The climate crisis is a brutal undercurrent throughout the film and the evidence is both everywhere and terrifying.
That is made especially clear when Japan announces they will be releasing Fukushima radioactive wastewater into the Pacific Ocean in batches over several years. Despite the government and various “experts” claiming it is safe to do so, the haenyeo know better. They know it in their bones after spending years and generations in the water. There is a wonderful scene in which the women gather to discuss the harm this decision will cause to their own health, as well as the health of the ocean. As guardians of the sea, the haenyeo are ready to put up a fight. Together, they attend a protest at Jeju City Hall, and later, diver Soon Deok Jang travels on her own to deliver a cheer-worthy speech at the Human Rights Council in Switzerland.
The other reality is that the majority of haenyeo are in their sixties, seventies, and eighties with very few successors to carry on their culture. In the 1960s, the number of haenyeo peaked at 30,000. Today, only 2000 remain. That being said, one of the more hopeful aspects of the film is the two younger haenyeo who are featured, Jeongmin and Sohee. Tired of monotonous office life, reconnecting with nature and history has brought a strong sense of fulfillment. With their social media savvy, Jeongmin and Sohee breathe new life into the ancient profession, optimistic that they can proudly continue the important haenyeo legacy.
While the film is enjoyable, there could be more of it. More of the women, their history and friendships; more exploration of the class and workers’ rights issues they briefly mention in passing. Slice of life moments prove the most memorable highlights of what we do get: the women in their homes, sharing laughter and stories. One could spend a lot more time with them. With such captivating and insightful subjects, it’s always worth letting the camera linger a bit longer.
About five minutes into The Last of the Sea Women, it is explained that Jeju is famous for three things: rocks, wind, and women. And just 83 minutes later, audiences understand why. In this urgent moment defined by greed and capitalism, we can learn a lot from the haenyeo. With their deep commitment to protecting the earth, community, and future generations, they are true forces of nature who deserve the spotlight.
The Last of the Sea Women premiered at TIFF 2024.
It streams on AppleTV+ in October.
Get more coverage from this year’s festival here.
