New Apple TV+ documentary ‘The Last of the Sea Women’ poised to be the sleeper hit of the fall
In the new Apple TV+ documentary, The Last of the Sea Women, an extraordinary band of feisty grandmother warriors wage a spirited battle against vast oceanic threats. Often called real-life mermaids, 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 and hardworking women refuse to give an inch, aided by a younger generation’s fight to revive their ancestral lifestyle through social media. Peering into what drives haenyeo young and old, this moving documentary zeroes in on their tight-knit friendships and savvy independence. The story unfolds into an uplifting tale of women taking on world powers to protect their beloved ocean and inspire a new generation.
Esther Zuckerman for Bloomberg News:
In recent years, Malala Yousafzai, the activist who won a Nobel Peace Prize as a teenager, has been forging a career in Hollywood. She already executive produced an Oscar-nominated short, and now she lends her international star power to the feature length documentary, The Last of the Sea Women, releasing Friday on Apple TV+.
Yousafzai’s name carries a level of import and seriousness that could suggest that this film is the kind of project you should watch even if it’s not one you necessarily want to watch. But the Sue Kim-directed documentary feels more like easy extra credit than homework. It’s a visually stunning portrait of a group of funny, passionate women…
[E]ven though it sometimes feels like The Last of the Sea Women is treading water, it’s still largely a pleasure. When the documentary is at its best it has a comforting air, even with the environmental anxieties that hang over the action. Most important, it’s easy, charming viewing: Just let yourself get swept away by the majesty of the ocean and the nearly superhuman women who explore its depths.
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