What did these women begin to do hundreds of years ago?
Why do the haenyeo rub their masks with toothpaste?
What does the film Breathing Underwater consist of?
What did the director do to film this documentary?
Who is the woman?
How long do they swim without eating or drinking?
What did she combine the footage she captured with?
What is the woman wearing?
How old are the women?
Where is she from?
a collection of the women’s memories
a haenyeo, or “sea woman”
Udo, an island off the southern coast of South Korea
eight hours
They began to collect shellfish, octopuses, and seaweed to support their families.
Most are older than 50, and some are over 80.
She followed a group of haenyeo from Udo for seven years.
poetic narration written by Song Ji-na and touching music by Yang Bang-ean
a wetsuit
to keep them clear
What does a diver do each time she surfaces and why?
Why are they sometimes tempted to stay underwater?
What is the biggest danger to haenyeo?
What dangers do haenyeo face apart from cold water and lack of oxygen?
How many classes of haenyeo are there and what are the differences between them?
What don’t they have?
What is the meaning of “breathing underwater?”
What kinds of equipment do they use?
There are three classes, and divers in each level can dive to varying depths.
wet-suits, round masks, fins, and weight belts along with spears, floats, and nets
fishing boats passing overhead, seaweed wrapping around their bodies, and getting carried away by the waves
drowning
to grab just one more valuable sea creature
“greed,” or a desire for success that conflicts with their desire for safety
(She lets out a whistle called SUMBI that helps her recover her breath quickly.
oxygen tanks