The vanishing way of life was depicted in the film “The Last of the Sea Women.” Su Kim’s directorial debut focuses on… haenyeo – Submarines primarily associated with Jeju Island off the southern coast of South Korea. Working without oxygen tanks, these women swim to great depths in search of seafood, the sale of which provides their livelihood. But this unique profession is dying out, a victim of various phenomena, but mostly due to the lack of new recruits to replenish its aging practitioners. This affectionate and hilarious look at a declining tradition premieres Friday on Apple TV+, and also opens on the same date on one of Laemmle’s screens in Los Angeles.
They consider themselves “guardians of the sea.” haenyeo They’ve only adopted wetsuits, fins, and goggles for the past forty years or so; They now use motorboats instead of rowboats to reach the dive sites. But resisting technological advances is a source of pride, as well as a way to ensure that otherwise protected quarries such as sea urchins, octopus, abalone and seaweed are not over-harvested. Using only their breath, they can descend more than 100 metres, and stay underwater for up to three minutes. The introduction of insulating clothing extended work periods at sea to several hours – although upon returning to land, it could take an equally long time to process the load and penetrate the sea urchin’s tough, spiny exterior.
These women are strong and prickly as well, with loud songs, laughter, and the occasional fight. Their profession gave them independence and a respectable income, although this was not always the case. Some of my interviewees remember days not so distant ago haenyeo They were looked down upon because of their dark skin and hard work, even if many provided basic sustenance for their families.
Almost all of these subjects are over 60 years old, and one subject is 90 years old. While it is now considered a cultural treasure by UNESCO and the nation, the tradition “passed down from our mothers and grandmothers” does not seem to attract younger generations. . The doc actually meets two attractive women in their 30s who did the same job on a different island, 150 miles away. They appear to be middle-class and with mixed media experience, and one initially assumes they are embracing this endeavor as a form of influential propaganda. But in an annual celebration haenyeo Late in the ceremony going here, they are greeted by Jeju’s older “aunties” as offering hope that the appeal may continue.
Despite glimpses of undated archival footage, history is given little attention in Women of the Sea. There is no mention of how these diving spots date back to the 5th century AD, and no details about when they became largely ‘women’s work’ or how shifts in economic policy contributed to their shrinking numbers in recent decades. Exploration to some extent is risky haenyeo Faced with work, such “natural” ones as strong currents and injuries have now joined a growing array of man-made problems. When it rains, pesticides and fertilizers cloud the surroundings, hindering visibility. Climate change and drifting garbage have reduced marine life in shallow areas, forcing them to dive deeper.
Midway through the film, the documentary takes on a more activist tone, as the women are outraged to learn that water contaminated with radiation from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident (about a thousand miles away) will soon be released into the ocean. They strongly doubt it can be safe, and that’s what’s fueling organized protests that include 72-year-old Son Deok Jang – not the oldest active diver here – being flown across the world to speak about water pollution before a UN assembly.
While it is easy to see that environmental and societal trends are likely to continue to downsize haenyeo It is understandable that Kim prefers to emphasize their courageous spirit. Without being literate or knowledgeable as a group, they model many things, from feminine self-sufficiency and physical aging to environmental care and political agitation for citizens. There may be a farewell sadness built into the title, but “Last” is optimistic at its core, to a contagious effect that will surely attract at least some new aspirants to a field facing the prospect of extinction.
The highlight is undoubtedly Justin Turkowski’s beautiful underwater photography, capturing the lives of colorful aquatic species, as well as our heroes in action. An equally strong vocal contribution is Jang Young-gyu’s original score, which relies heavily on choral and percussive sounds to dramatic effect.