This British drama from writer-director Michael Powell features a story that charts the sad last days of the residents on Hirta, a small, isolated Scottish island. As more and more of the younger generations move away, the remaining residents are finding life, which was already a struggle, to be untenable. Young adults Andrew (Niall MacGinnis), Robbie (Eric Berry), and Robbie's sister Ruth (Belle Chrystall) all dream of moving to the mainland, and while Andrew's father James (Finlay Currie) can see the inevitability of it, Robbie and Ruth's proud father Peter (John Laurie) is determined to maintain life on Hirta as usual. Also featuring Michael Powell as the Yachtsman.
This was the first major feature film for director Powell, and he's already showing skill at composing imagery. The location cinematography is bleak yet beautiful, and the film's editing ratchets up several scenes of suspense. The film's one weakness lies in its performances. Currie and Laurie are both excellent, but MacGinnis is a bit green, and many of the supporting and bit players are obviously non-professionals. Still, this is a terrific debut from one of Great Britain's greatest filmmakers.
This was the first major feature film for director Powell, and he's already showing skill at composing imagery. The location cinematography is bleak yet beautiful, and the film's editing ratchets up several scenes of suspense. The film's one weakness lies in its performances. Currie and Laurie are both excellent, but MacGinnis is a bit green, and many of the supporting and bit players are obviously non-professionals. Still, this is a terrific debut from one of Great Britain's greatest filmmakers.