Sue Kim’s documentary on South Korea’s underwater fishers delves into critical issues like nuclear pollution and sexism, but ultimately, it doesn’t quite hit the mark. Co-produced with activist Malala Yousafzai, Kim provides a glimpse into the lives of the haenyeo of Jeju Island—these remarkable women have historically dived into the ocean without oxygen tanks to harvest seafood.
While the film celebrates the incredible journey of the haenyeo, who numbered around 30,000 in the early 1960s but have dwindled to about 3,200 today, the majority of whom are in their 60s, it tends to romanticize their legacy as a quaint eco-feminist tradition. This idealized view overlooks the pressing issues they face. Although UNESCO designated their practices as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016, the haenyeo themselves voice serious concerns about the potential extinction of their way of life and the deteriorating health of their ocean, threatened by pollution and climate change.
In the film, a younger haenyeo poses a challenging question regarding the use of oxygen tanks, which many might think would improve efficiency. However, the documentary fails to adequately explore the tension between preserving tradition and embracing modernization in their diving practices. We meet two young haenyeo who have become social media influencers, but the film leaves us questioning how their newfound fame has affected the declining numbers of haenyeo.
A crucial aspect addressed in the documentary is the ecological disaster following the Japanese government’s contentious decision to release radioactive water from the Fukushima plant into Korean waters. The women unite, with support from Greenpeace, to amplify their voices. Yet, after a powerful speech delivered at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the film ends abruptly, neglecting to discuss the implications of this environmental crisis. Instead, it concludes with uplifting images of the haenyeo at work, failing to capture the urgent anger surrounding the aftermath of Fukushima.
“The Last of the Sea Women” will be available on Apple TV+ starting October 11.
