When you work in the ocean, you can find yourselves battling the tide.
Taking the viewer into the waters of South Korea, The Last of the Sea Women follows the haenyeo, a community of sea women who have been harvesting the ocean for centuries. With most of their group in their 60s and 70s, the haenyeo have a deep love of their work (and the ocean) yet their future has come into peril. As increasing amounts of toxic garbage and nuclear waste are being poured into the waters, there is increasing concern for the quality of their waters where they work. As a result, they find themselves caught in a battle that they’re not sure they can win yet they also must fight for their own safety.
Directed by Sue Kim, The Last of the Sea Women is a compelling story of resilience and resistance. Faced with the most immense of circumstance, the haenyeo feel like they represent anyone who has ever had their lives stolen at the hands of large corporations. In the global community, they would be deemed insignificant but Kim highlights their value and importance. They are the very definition of a David vs. Goliath story where our heroes are vastly overmatched yet still continue to fight.
What’s more, there’s something undeniably charming about the haenyeo women. With most of them in their 60s or older, these fiery women are shown in their most pure environment. In every moment, they are simply themselves. These are not women who are used to the spotlight. Instead, they are everyday women who carry themselves with wisdom and humour. But, most importantly, they are committed to their work and they attack it with fiery passion. These are women who are well into their later years yet demonstrate a strength and courage that is absolutely stunning to watch. Most importantly, they believe in the tradition that they’re a part of and continue to do their best in a world that rarely acknowledges them.
Even so, with each generation, fewer and fewer young women seem interested in taking up the mantle. But the haenyeo continue to look for opportunities to pass the torch. They understand that the way of the haenyeo will come to an end if they aren’t able to draw in the next generation and that idea is devastating to them. While there is some progress in teaching young women to take up the charge (thank you, TikTok), they still seem to struggle to find new recruits. And the idea that they could be the true last of the sea women is devastating to them.
For them, passing down the tradition is as important as participating within it themselves.
Even so, Kim sets her sights on something even larger than the traditions of these sea women. With the release of contaminated water, Sea Women takes on a spirit of justice for, not only these women, but marine life in the area as well. There’s a certain joy watching as these women begin a battle that’s far bigger than themselves. Whether it’s participating in protests or speaking at the UN, the haenyeo understand the importance of their struggle and commit themselves to see it through.
It’s this heart and passion that Kim captures in the lives of these women as they step into the uncertain waters of the political landscape. They know firsthand the ways that these decisions can (and will) impact their lives and they know they need to act. They are neither politically savvy or grand public speakers. Even so, there is simply no other way to have their voices heard.
The Last of the Sea Women is available on Apple TV+ on October 11th, 2024.
