Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani Nobel Peace Prize winner, recently showcased her debut documentary at the Toronto International Film Festival on Apple TV+. Speaking to AFP, Yousafzai highlighted how the film’s focus on elderly South Korean women sea divers resonated with her advocacy work for women’s empowerment.
The documentary, titled “The Last of the Sea Women,” explores the lives of the haenyeo, a group of women divers from Jeju Island, South Korea. This matriarchal community, known for harvesting seafood using only simple tools like wetsuits, flippers, and hooks, was recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016. However, the tradition is fading, as most haenyeo are now in their 60s, 70s, or even 80s.
In an interview alongside Korean-American director Sue Kim, Yousafzai shared her enthusiasm for the project: “I was seeking stories about women’s resilience, and when I heard about this film, I knew it was exactly what I was looking for.” She added, “The haenyeo inspire me in countless ways—their strength, their connection to nature, and how they’ve built their community.”
Unyielding Strength and Tradition
The documentary paints a vivid portrait of a dwindling tradition. In the 1960s, some 30,000 haenyeo supported their families by collecting seafood such as octopus and abalone from the depths of the ocean. Today, the number of active divers has dropped to just 4,000.
Featuring striking underwater footage, the film documents the challenges these women face as they dive without oxygen tanks, holding their breath for up to two minutes. It also highlights their efforts to preserve their culture through training programs and social media outreach, while addressing the environmental issues they face, including concerns over the release of wastewater from Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean.
Director Sue Kim, making her feature film debut, described the haenyeo as “total badasses,” noting their physical agility and strength, as well as their dedication to protecting the environment and mentoring the next generation.
A Voice for Women’s Stories
At 17, Yousafzai became the youngest-ever Nobel laureate after surviving a Taliban assassination attempt for her activism promoting education for girls. Now 27, she continues her mission of advocating for women’s rights through storytelling.
Yousafzai signed a deal with Apple TV+ in 2021 to produce content that elevates the voices of women and girls, and has since founded her own production company. She remarked, “Storytelling has always been a vital part of my activism. I believe in creating platforms where girls and women can share their perspectives with the world.”
Looking ahead, she expressed her desire to continue collaborating with female directors and storytellers to bring more powerful narratives to the screen.
