Shot over four arduous months in the wild, windswept Shetland Islands, Michael Powell's first independent production established the daring techniques and experimentation that would later become familiar hallmarks of his career. The Edge of the World tells the moving story of a remote island and its inhabitants, whose traditions and way of life are threatened by a rapidly industrialising world.
"The Edge of the World still stands up today, particularly for its stunning location cinematography, as well as the film's opening scenes in which we see various ghostly apparitions on the now deserted island. Also notable is John Laurie's brooding, yet sympathetic performance as Peter Manson, the film's most complex role, one which is shown to be inextricably linked with the fate of the island itself. Powell's script and direction also give the first real indication of the love of nature and his mystical use of landscape to shape and comment upon human stories, which would be developed further in his celebrated collaborations with Emeric Pressburger."
- Sergio Angellini, BFI
Senses of Cinema on The Edge of the World
"I don't think I shall ever make another film, however good it may turn out to be, that will mean as much to me as The Edge of the World." - Michael Powell
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