Set against the backdrop of the Maldives—the lowest-lying country on the planet, with a maximum elevation of just 2.4 meters—this story also speaks to broader systems of exclusion. Despite living across more than 1,200 islands, only 10% of Maldivian women and girls over the age of 10 know how to swim. In a nation whose economy is rooted in tourism and fishing, this is more than a missing life skill: it represents a critical gap in access to independence, opportunity, and survival.

This series builds on Tigereyes, an award-winning short film by Martina Trepczyk that intimately captured Hamna’s story. The poetic, visually striking film became the second most-watched film on the WaterBear documentary platform. Ocean Warriors is continuum of carving out space for the female gaze, the female perspective, the female experience.

To tie the knot, Martina Trepczyk chose a mixed-media approach, led by analog Super 8mm film. Its handheld, tactile quality and vivid color palette evoke immediacy and presence—something raw and honest.

This film is part of Mother Nature, a documentary series spotlighting women at the frontlines of environmental and cultural resilience around the world. Each episode is directed by a female filmmaker, reclaiming the lens through which women and nature are seen.