Michael Powell had made around 25 films before The Edge Of The World, but this was the first to integrate his artistry with an emotional commitment to the subject. Inspired by the evacuation of the remote Scottish island of St. Kilda, it's a remarkable blend of romance, melodrama and closely observed communal tradition.
There's a strong sense of how a rugged terrain shapes its inhabitants, as the younger generation prepares to leave for the mainland because the island's fishing industry has dried up due to the arrival of modern trawlers. Powell's sensitive understanding of all the characters' dilemmas is heartfelt.