The Edge of the World

Rating:
Summary: Odd, but beautiful film
Review: "The Edge of the World", directed by Michael Powell, is an odd little film. It's set in the 1930s on Hirta, a tiny remote Shetland island. Fishing trawlers are depleting the local cache of fish, and there are questions about the viability of continuing life on the island. Two young islanders disagree about the future of the island--Robbie believes that living on the island will soon become impossible, and Andrew believes that the island still offers a solid living. The two men, lifelong friends, decide to hold a race to decide their argument. The race ends in tragedy and a self-imposed exile.

This area of the world has always fascinated me, so when I discovered the existence of the film--combined with the fact that it was directed by Michael Powell, I had to track down a copy. "The Edge of The World" does a marvelous job of portraying island life--right before it disappeared. I was aware that life on the islands had to be harsh, but the film reveals the living conditions in some detail. The islanders' system for getting letters to the mainland has to be seen to be believed.

The cinematography is absolutely outstanding and lends itself to black and white--visually this is a beautiful film. The shots of the craggy rocks are stunning. The film was shot on location on the Shetland island of Foula. The story is a teensy bit corny, but it's not too over-the-top, and the romance plays second fiddle to the story of the island. "The Edge of the World" stands as a record for a way of life that is lost forever, and as such, the film is an amazing relic.

The sound quality was a little rough--especially in the beginning of the film. It was almost as through everything was recorded on a very windy day. The sound quality, however, evened out as the film progressed. If you enjoy this film, I recommend "I Know Where I'm Going." The DVD has some nice extra features--including 2 short extra pieces "A Letter from an Airman to his Mother", and "Return to the Edge of the World." The latter is a short documentary film--displacedhuman

Rating:
Summary: Odd, but beautiful film
Review: "The Edge of the World", directed by Michael Powell, is an odd little film. It's set in the 1930s on Hirta, a tiny remote Shetland island. Fishing trawlers are depleting the local cache of fish, and there are questions about the viability of continuing life on the island. Two young islanders disagree about the future of the island--Robbie believes that living on the island will soon become impossible, and Andrew believes that the island still offers a solid living. The two men, lifelong friends, decide to hold a race to decide their argument. The race ends in tragedy and a self-imposed exile.

This area of the world has always fascinated me, so when I discovered the existence of the film--combined with the fact that it was directed by Michael Powell, I had to track down a copy. "The Edge of The World" does a marvelous job of portraying island life--right before it disappeared. I was aware that life on the islands had to be harsh, but the film reveals the living conditions in some detail. The islanders' system for getting letters to the mainland has to be seen to be believed.

The cinematography is absolutely outstanding and lends itself to black and white--visually this is a beautiful film. The shots of the craggy rocks are stunning. The film was shot on location on the Shetland island of Foula. The story is a teensy bit corny, but it's not too over-the-top, and the romance plays second fiddle to the story of the island. "The Edge of the World" stands as a record for a way of life that is lost forever, and as such, the film is an amazing relic.

The sound quality was a little rough--especially in the beginning of the film. It was almost as through everything was recorded on a very windy day. The sound quality, however, evened out as the film progressed. If you enjoy this film, I recommend "I Know Where I'm Going." The DVD has some nice extra features--including 2 short extra pieces "A Letter from an Airman to his Mother", and "Return to the Edge of the World." The latter is a short documentary film--displacedhuman

Rating:
Summary: Marvelously filmed in black&white expressionist style...
Review: I have never heard about this film before. (Shame on me!)
A masterpiece of the thirties undoubtedly... a cocktail of the early Hitchcok & John Ford way of shooting a film (just to give you a quick idea of the quality...).
Recommended for cinephiles, plain romantics, and lovers of nature... The ACTORS are GREAT and the direction is SUPERB.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant film, long unavailable...
Review: Stunning 1937 film set in the Shetland Islands, and filmed on the North Sea isle of Foula. Director Michael Powell has been called "the British John Ford", and you'll see why when you watch this film.

Based on a newspaper article the director once read, "The Edge of the World" is a heartbreaking documentary-style look at a phenomenon that really faced island-dwellers off the coast of Scotland in the 1930's and 40s.

On Hirta, the ficticious isolated coastal island, the fishing is becoming impossible thanks to the mainland trawlers and their huge nets. The peat the islanders harvest and sell for fuel is almost exhausted. The youth of the island are leaving in droves.

As a result, the islanders face a harsh choice; try to go on with their way of life, or give up everything and ask the government to relocate them on the mainland. There is bitter debate among the inhabitants, with part in favor of leaving, others wanting to fight on, and still more who are uncertain what to do.

While the acting may occasionally seem a bit overdone today, the real winner here is the outstanding photography done on location. Hills sweep up and end abruptly with sheer cliffs. The pounding sea sprays the rocks, and clouds sweep over the expanse of the island, leaving telling shadows on all below. There is also a truly heartstopping race as two men climb the sheer cliffs to decide questions between them.

This is an amazing and moving film that focuses on characters, with their odd beliefs, their customs, their culture threatened, and their whole way of life hanging in the balance.

After one viewing, you will never be able to leave this film behind. Truly an overlooked work, it is indespensible to the serious film buff and student.

Cheers to Milestone, who copied the film's recently restored 35mm print for this tape (and in SP mode, no less!). Until a Criterion DVD edition comes out, this is the best version you're likely to find of this wonderful film, and well worth the price.

The tape includes the twenty minute documentary "Return to the Edge of the World" in its entirety, as well as the Powell WW2 short subject, "An Airman's Letter to His Mother".

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant film, long unavailable...
Review: Stunning 1937 film set in the Shetland Islands, and filmed on the North Sea isle of Foula. Director Michael Powell has been called "the British John Ford", and you'll see why when you watch this film.

Based on a newspaper article the director once read, "The Edge of the World" is a heartbreaking documentary-style look at a phenomenon that really faced island-dwellers off the coast of Scotland in the 1930's and 40s.

On Hirta, the ficticious isolated coastal island, the fishing is becoming impossible thanks to the mainland trawlers and their huge nets. The peat the islanders harvest and sell for fuel is almost exhausted. The youth of the island are leaving in droves.

As a result, the islanders face a harsh choice; try to go on with their way of life, or give up everything and ask the government to relocate them on the mainland. There is bitter debate among the inhabitants, with part in favor of leaving, others wanting to fight on, and still more who are uncertain what to do.

While the acting may occasionally seem a bit overdone today, the real winner here is the outstanding photography done on location. Hills sweep up and end abruptly with sheer cliffs. The pounding sea sprays the rocks, and clouds sweep over the expanse of the island, leaving telling shadows on all below. There is also a truly heartstopping race as two men climb the sheer cliffs to decide questions between them.

This is an amazing and moving film that focuses on characters, with their odd beliefs, their customs, their culture threatened, and their whole way of life hanging in the balance.

After one viewing, you will never be able to leave this film behind. Truly an overlooked work, it is indespensible to the serious film buff and student.

Cheers to Milestone, who copied the film's recently restored 35mm print for this tape (and in SP mode, no less!). Until a Criterion DVD edition comes out, this is the best version you're likely to find of this wonderful film, and well worth the price.

The tape includes the twenty minute documentary "Return to the Edge of the World" in its entirety, as well as the Powell WW2 short subject, "An Airman's Letter to His Mother".