Quest for Fire

( 2 )

Overview

Quest for Fire takes place some 80,000 years in the past. A primitive homo sapiens tribe huddles around a natural fire source for comfort and survival. When that source is extinguished, tribesmen Naoh Everett McGill, Amoukar Ron Perlman, and Gaw Nameer El-Kadi are sent out on a "quest for fire." After several days of wandering through the prehistoric landscape the film was shot in Canada, Scotland, Iceland, and Kenya, the three come across a cannibal tribe that knows how to produce fire; they save a young girl, ...
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Overview

Quest for Fire takes place some 80,000 years in the past. A primitive homo sapiens tribe huddles around a natural fire source for comfort and survival. When that source is extinguished, tribesmen Naoh Everett McGill, Amoukar Ron Perlman, and Gaw Nameer El-Kadi are sent out on a "quest for fire." After several days of wandering through the prehistoric landscape the film was shot in Canada, Scotland, Iceland, and Kenya, the three come across a cannibal tribe that knows how to produce fire; they save a young girl, Ika Rae Dawn Chong, from the clutches of the cannibals, with the hope that she'll reveal the secret. Based on a novel by J. H. Rosny Sr., Quest for Fire convincingly creates the world of the past and believably molds its characters within the context of their surroundings and their limited knowledge of the world. The credibility factor is aided by technical consultants Desmond Morris and Anthony Burgess, who respectively developed a set of gestures and a simplistic language for the Ulams and Ivakas. An Oscar went to John Hay and Penny Rose's costume design.
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Editorial Reviews

All Movie Guide - Tom Wiener
Since nearly every movie set in prehistoric times before Quest for Fire was either a special effects-driven action film (One Million B.C.), a dopey comedy (Caveman, released the same year as Quest), or a small segment in a larger story (2001: A Space Odyssey), this movie can claim the high ground pretty much to itself. Eschewing subtitles and narration; employing heavy hitters Anthony Burgess and Desmond Morris to come up with special languages, body language, and gestures; casting virtual unknowns; and throwing in R-rated violence and sex, Quest for Fire still manages to be pretty entertaining and very easy to follow. Not that we're talking about a sophisticated story line: the Ulam tribe loses their fire source, sends three of its men out to find some more, and they come back not only with a flame but with a companion who can help them create more just by rubbing two sticks together. The script, adapted from a novel by J. H. Rosny Sr., depicts a world of tribes that basically mistrust one another, only some are more aggressive about that mistrust than others. There are a number of arresting images, none more touching than watching one of the Ulam desperately blowing on the tribe's last ember, only to have it die out. Watching this film on widescreen DVD allows you to luxuriate in the scenic locations, although shooting in Scotland, Iceland, Canada, and then Kenya makes for some slightly disconcerting terrain and vegetation changes by the filmmakers.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 3/4/2003
  • UPC: 024543070009
  • Original Release: 1981

    • Rating:

  • Source: 20TH CENTURY FOX
  • Format: VHS

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Everett McGill Naoh Ulam Tribe Member
Rae Dawn Chong Ika Ivaka Tribe Member
Ron Perlman Amoukar, Ulam tribe member
Nameer El-Kadi Gaw, Ulam tribe member
Gary Schwartz Rooka
Kurt Schiegl Faum
Franck-Olivier Bonnet Aghoo
Brian Gill
Terry Fitt
Matt Birman
Joy Boushel
George Buza Kzamm Tribe
Bibi Caspari
Ellen Chenoweth
Peter Elliott Mikr
Peter Elliott Mikr
Karen Hazzard
Jean-Michel Kindt
Robert Lavoie
Michelle Leduc
Technical Credits
Jean-Jacques Annaud Director
Claude Agostini Cinematographer
Renee April Costumes/Costume Designer
Martin Ashbee Sound/Sound Designer
Véra Belmont Co-producer
Gérard Brach Screenwriter
David Bracknell Asst. Director
Michele Burke Makeup
Clinton Cavers Art Director
Guy J. Comtois Production Designer
Jacques Dorfmann Co-producer
David Evans Sound Editor
Joe Grimaldi Sound/Sound Designer
Austin Grimaldi Sound/Sound Designer
Michael Gruskoff Producer
John Hay Costumes/Costume Designer
Claude Hazanavicius Sound/Sound Designer
Ken Heeley-Ray Sound Editor, Sound/Sound Designer
Denis Heroux Producer
John Kemeny Producer
Yves Langlois Editor
Martin Malivoire Special Effects
Sarah Monzani Makeup
Brian Morris Production Designer
Claude Nedjar Associate Producer
Penny Rose Costumes/Costume Designer
Philippe Sarde Score Composer
Garth Thomas Associate Producer, Production Manager
Christopher Tucker Makeup
Matthew Vibert Asst. Director
Kevin Ward Sound/Sound Designer
Don White Sound/Sound Designer
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 5
( 2 )
Rating Distribution

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Sort by: Showing all of 2 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    A Quest for greatness

    This film isn't at all what i would expect, from it's stunning scenes to it's groundbreaking content, Quest For Fire is truely a great film. The movie in it's entirety isn't at all too complicated, it's merely about a clan during the late days of the iceage who loses their fire and sends three worriors to get a new blaze. The directing was exceptional, but not the best, instead the movie's strength lies in the actors. The actors didn't just grunt like cavemen, instead they presented emotional appeal to the movie. While this movie can seem to be a bit much at times, there is still so much affort in it to make it be a truelly great film.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    A dramatic appreciation of a different era

    One of the best movies in decades. Not fancy on special effects or extreme action, just pure well written screenplay, logical and well adapted.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Sort by: Showing all of 2 Customer Reviews