The Edge of the World

The film begins with a yacht passing by the remote island of Hirta. The yachtsman, played by Michael Powell, notices that the island appears deserted, which is unusual given the book he carries suggesting it should be inhabited. His crewman Andrew Gray mentions that the island is now uninhabited, hinting at a change in the island's population status.

Despite Andrew Gray's warnings, the yachtsman decides to land on Hirta. Upon landing, they discover a gravestone overlooking a cliff, indicating past inhabitants and hinting at tragic events. Andrew reminisces about his life on Hirta, revealing his connection to the island.

The islanders hold their 'parliament' where Robbie Manson announces his plan to leave Hirta in search of a wider world, while Ruth Manson, Andrew's sweetheart, and her family want to stay. Robbie shares his engagement to a Norwegian girl, Polly, and intends to leave the island, sparking a debate among the islanders about their future.

Robbie proposes that the island evacuate to the mainland, leading to a dangerous cliff race to settle disagreements. Andrew wins the race, but Robbie falls off the cliff to his death. This tragic event causes guilt and shifts relationships, especially with Ruth’s father who now opposes Andrew.

Overcome with guilt and rejection, Andrew decides to leave Hirta for Lerwick on the Shetland Mainland. Unbeknownst to him, Ruth is pregnant with his child, a piece of news that he cannot learn immediately. Ruth gives birth months later, but communication is delayed due to the infrequent mail boat.

Andrew arrives on Hirta aboard a fishing trawler during a fierce gale, just in time to help Ruth and her newborn, who is suffering from diphtheria. They manage to save the baby's life through a life-saving tracheotomy, reaffirming Andrew’s connection to the island and his family.

With crops failing, peat resources nearly depleted, and the health of Ruth's baby, the islanders decide to evacuate Hirta and resettle on the mainland. Peter Manson reluctantly signs the petition for government assistance, marking the end of their way of life on the island.

Peter Manson, eager to collect a valuable guillemot's egg, climbs down a steep cliff to retrieve it. During his ascent, the rope frays, causing him to fall to his death. His gravestone is later found on the cliff's edge, the same one seen by the yachtsman at the start of the film.

As the islanders prepare to leave, they organize the evacuation process. The community faces the emotional farewell to their traditional way of life, knowing they are heading toward an uncertain future on the mainland, leaving behind their home and past.

The film concludes with the yachtsman revisiting the island, now deserted and silent. He reflects on the tragic and inevitable end of the island community, marked by the gravestone on the cliff and the history that once thrived there.