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Quest for Fire (1981)
"La guerre du feu" (original title)

7.3
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Ratings: 7.3/10 from 11,211 users  
Reviews: 83 user | 34 critic

This story takes place in prehistoric time when three prehistoric tribesmen search for a new fire source.

Writers:

(screenplay), (based on the novel by)
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Title: Quest for Fire (1981)

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Won 1 Oscar. Another 10 wins & 7 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
Gaw (as Nameer El-Kadi)
...
Ika
...
Rouka - The Ulam Tribe
Naseer El-Kadi ...
Nam - The Ulam Tribe
Franck-Olivier Bonnet ...
Aghoo - The Ulam Tribe (as Frank Olivier Bonnet)
Jean-Michel Kindt ...
Lakar - The Ulam Tribe
Kurt Schiegl ...
Faum - The Ulam Tribe
Brian Gill ...
Modoc - The Ulam Tribe
Terry Fitt ...
Hourk - The Ulam Tribe
Bibi Caspari ...
Gammla - The Ulam Tribe
...
Mikr - The Ulam Tribe
Michelle Leduc ...
Matr - The Ulam Tribe
...
Tsor - The Ulam Tribe
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Storyline

Anthony Burgess created the primitive language for the early humans in this prehistoric adventure about a trio of warriors who travel the savanna, encountering sabre-toothed tigers, mammoths and cannibalistic tribes in search of a flame that would replace the fire their tribe has lost. Written by Keith Loh <loh@sfu.ca>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

fire | tribe | primitive | trio | travel | See more »

Taglines:

A Science Fantasy Adventure.


Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

| |

Release Date:

12 February 1982 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Quest for Fire  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Budget:

$12,500,000 (estimated)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(35 mm prints)| (70 mm prints)

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

La guerre du feu, the novel by J.-H. Rosny Aîné, is credited in the edition by Presses de la Cité, instead of the original literary source. That editor promoted a new edition in 1982, in the wake of the film's success. See more »

Goofs

In one shot the mastodons' faces are completely covered in hair, but in the next shot the hair is gone. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Title Card: 80,000 years ago, man's survival in a vast uncharted land depended on the possession of fire. / For those early humans, fire was an object of great mystery, since no one had mastered its creation. Fire had to be stolen from nature, it had to be kept alive - sheltered from wind and rain, guarded from rival tribes. / Fire was a symbol of power and a means of survival. The tribe who possessed fire, possessed life.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Silent Clowns: Laurel and Hardy (2006) See more »

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User Reviews

 
Anthropoids galore!
12 January 1999 | by (Encinitas, California) – See all my reviews

One of the elements of this film I liked the most was the realistic depiction of the diversity of anthropoid types that existed in those times. This was executed beautifully and skillfully in the depiction of several diverse tribal groups, explaining the well deserved Oscar for makeup.

When Naoh finds the love of his life in one of these other tribes, it is because there is an element of compatibility both between the cultures and the two individuals supporting the attraction they share. Some of the other groups depicted don't do as well in the tribal intercourse and cultural sharing department, as they tend to eat the individuals from other tribes that they encounter.

Another elements of realism that scores big with me was that there are attacks by wild animals as well as by anthropoids. I also liked the language used by the main tribe, there was a suggestion that the language was evolving right before us as the travelers, having been sent on a quest for fire, returned with quite a bit more to talk about.

This is one of my favorite movies, possibly the most favorite.


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