The Edge of the World is about the evacuation of a Shetland Island, which has become too isolated to be inhabitable. The story was based on the evacuation of St Kilda, but Powell's film was made on Fouda.
The shoot for the film was arduous, being in such a remote place, and before air travel there was feasible. The cast and crew had to spend most of a year living on the island because it was so difficult to commute. This story is told in Powell's seventies documentary, Return to the Edge of the World.
It reminds me of the extremes Werner Herzog went to in his seventies and eighties films to capture something difficult and elusive. I wouldn't recommend it as the most entertaining of Powell's films. But it is very stark and beautiful, and probably unique. Certainly a must see for those interested in the brilliant Powell, and the history of the islands. Not so much for others
A beautifully directed and acted film. The simple story perfectly encapsulates the dilemma faced by small island communities between the first and second world wars. Facing poor harvests, the migration of its younger people, and the lack of efficient transport and communications with the mainland, those left on the island have to come to terms with the fact that their way of life is no longer viable. Michael Powell throws into the mix tragedy, melodrama and soundtrack that is both haunting and uplifting, and with it creates a thing of beauty.
FILM & REVIEW Michael Powell’s first major motion picture and what a remarkable film it is. Set on the remote Hebridean island of Hirta (in reality the island of Foutra)it opens with a luxery yacht captained by Powell himself and skippered by Andrew (Maginnis) calling thinking it is inhibited but Andrew who used to live there tells him it’s been abandoned. This leads to a lenthy flashback of Andrew , his best friend Robbie (Berry) and his twin sister Ruth ( Crystal) who Andrew is in love with… A dispute between the two men leads to a challenge to scale some cliffs but Robbie tries a shortcut with fatal consequences. This enrages the twins Father (Laurie) who forbids Ruth to marry and this combined with a declining population and economic opportunities causes Andrew to leave for Shetland. Once he has gone Ruth discovers she is with child but as the mail boat only comes once a year she has to rely on the trawler fleet to pass on the news…. Meanwhile conditions worsen and the decision to evacuate the island is taken… It was an arduous shoot where the cast and crew had to fend for themselves with almost no contact with the outside world which adds to the isolation of the film. The use of the wind swept barren cliffs that the population cling to is remarkable as are some the climbing sequences carried out mainly by the cast. In his later career Powell would create entire landscapes at Pinewood but for this it’s man vs the elements at its most brutal….quite remarkable 4/5