PRODUCTIONS: DIVING WOMEN

DIRECTOR

PRODUCER

DURATION

VERSIONS

FORMAT

Gianluca Cerasola

Morol Srl

52'

SD

Jeju Island is the island of women, a subtropical coral reef of volcanic origin, off southern South Korean Peninsula.
The oasis of Jeju is inhabited by around 600,000 inhabitants, the aspects that distinguishes is the matriarchal structure of the family. Because of continuous wars, (still military service is obligatory for two years), while men were committed to the front, the woman has become the cornerstone of family, the one who carries out the economy and the livelihood of the family. The Diving Women of Jeju-do are marked example of this inevitable “abuse of women”. These groups of women (Haenyeo), which due to the shortage of men has specialized in spear fishing and marketing of fish. Women are immersed without the aid of oxygen cylinders to gather shellfish, crustaceans, fish and seafood.

The fishing Haenyeo have developed an amazing physical resistance, able to withstand cold ocean temperatures throughout the year, holding breath underwater for more than two minutes and reaching depths of over 30 meters. Their equipment, decidedly moderate, has evolved over the years, if the first was composed of a bag, a knife and a costume, now-a-days, they use wetsuits, fins, masks and gloves, which allows them to remain at sea for about three hours. According to some studies, women denominates over this activity because they have also a superior mental strength than men and a greater proportion of subcutaneous fat, fat brown, which makes them more stable to strong climate contrasts in water. The youngest diving women has 65 years old, the oldest woman Haenyeo has 87 years and submerges, 4 months a year, five times a week for about 2 hours