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IMDbPro

Quest for Fire

Original title: La guerre du feu
  • 19811981
  • RR
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
22K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
5,820
72
Quest for Fire (1981)
This story takes place in prehistoric time when three tribesmen search for a new fire source.
Play trailer1:06
3 Videos
70 Photos
AdventureDramaHistory
This story takes place in prehistoric time when three tribesmen search for a new fire source.This story takes place in prehistoric time when three tribesmen search for a new fire source.This story takes place in prehistoric time when three tribesmen search for a new fire source.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
22K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
5,820
72
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Jean-Jacques Annaud
    • Writers
      • Gérard Brach(screenplay)
      • J.H. Rosny Sr.(based on the novel by)
    • Stars
      • Everett McGill
      • Ron Perlman
      • Nicholas Kadi
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Jean-Jacques Annaud
    • Writers
      • Gérard Brach(screenplay)
      • J.H. Rosny Sr.(based on the novel by)
    • Stars
      • Everett McGill
      • Ron Perlman
      • Nicholas Kadi
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 115User reviews
    • 67Critic reviews
    • 79Metascore
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 11 wins & 8 nominations total

    Videos3

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:06
    Official Trailer
    Bande-annonce [OV]
    Trailer 2:16
    Bande-annonce [OV]
    Sneak Previews Season 4 Episode 21
    Video 28:32
    Sneak Previews Season 4 Episode 21

    Photos70

    Quest for Fire (1981)
    Rae Dawn Chong in Quest for Fire (1981)
    Rae Dawn Chong in Quest for Fire (1981)
    Quest for Fire (1981)
    Quest for Fire (1981)
    Quest for Fire (1981)
    Quest for Fire (1981)
    Quest for Fire (1981)
    Quest for Fire (1981)
    Everett McGill in Quest for Fire (1981)
    Rae Dawn Chong in Quest for Fire (1981)
    Quest for Fire (1981)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Everett McGill
    Everett McGill
    • Naoh
    Ron Perlman
    Ron Perlman
    • Amoukar
    Nicholas Kadi
    Nicholas Kadi
    • Gaw
    • (as Nameer El-Kadi)
    Rae Dawn Chong
    Rae Dawn Chong
    • Ika
    Gary Schwartz
    Gary Schwartz
    • 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
    Peter Elliott
    Peter Elliott
    • Mikr - The Ulam Tribe
    Michelle Leduc
    • Matr - The Ulam Tribe
    Robert Lavoie
    Robert Lavoie
    • Tsor - The Ulam Tribe
    Matt Birman
    Matt Birman
    • Morah - The Ulam Tribe
    Christian Benard
    • Umbre - The Ulam Tribe
    Joy Boushel
    Joy Boushel
    • The Ulam Tribe
    • (as Joy Boushell)
    • Director
      • Jean-Jacques Annaud
    • Writers
      • Gérard Brach(screenplay)
      • J.H. Rosny Sr.(based on the novel by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Both Ron Perlman and Everett McGill suffered frostbite, luckily they were able to heal completely. Despite the working conditions, they both enjoyed making the film.
    • Goofs
      There were no saber-toothed cats in Europe at any time. Saber-Toothed cats evolved in North America, then spread to South America during the Great American Interchange (when the Isthmus of Panama rose from the sea and connected North and South America). There *were* very large cave lions (Panthera Spelea) in Europe, but they had the regular dentition of modern African lions (Panthera Leo).
    • 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.

    • Alternate versions
      All UK versions are cut by 8 secs and are missing a shot of a wolf on fire.
    • Connections
      Featured in À propos de 'La guerre du feu' (1981)

    User reviews115

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    A journey through the essence of the human spirit.
    Jean Jacques Annaud's "Quest for Fire" caught me by surprise. I have always been enthralled by movies that take place in prehistoric times, but I never expected this movie to be filmed with such consistency. This film captures an innocent adventure, in which three men (Naoh, Amoukar,& Gaw) are selected by the tribe to recapture their snuffed out fire. The journey brings them into many trials of existence, which we modern beings very seldom come in contact with. At points, there scenes that capture a sense of humor that is so basic to our modern way of thinking, but for these characters they are just discovering such things like the concept of laugher. At other points of the film, these brave men encounter situations that show the true brutal world of the survival of the fittest. The manner in which these characters search for fire gives the viewer a true love for the characters courage and heroic nature. For if they do not succeed, it is surely the end of their tribe and for them. The fire holds the key to survival with its warmth, cooking function, and most of all its ability to ward off stalking predators. Fire is power for beings at this point in time. Just as knowledge is for modern human beings.

    This film succeeds in it's proportions,direction, settings, music, great special effects,and acting. The acting especially is something to take notice of, since there is no recognizable language spoken. The preparation for such a role as this these is amazing in its own right. "Quest for Fire" will lead you into the reality of what once was and capture the essence of the human spirit.
    helpful•86
    11
    • Gustav-11
    • Jun 15, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 12, 1982 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Canada
      • France
    • Languages
      • None
      • French
    • Also known as
      • The War of Fire
    • Filming locations
      • Grieg's Caves, Lion's Head, Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • International Cinema Corporation (ICC)
      • Ciné Trail
      • Belstar Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $12,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $20,959,585
    • Gross worldwide
      • $20,962,615
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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