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.
- Director
- Writers
- Gérard Brach(screenplay)
- J.H. Rosny Sr.(based on the novel by)
- Stars
Top credits
- Director
- Writers
- Gérard Brach(screenplay)
- J.H. Rosny Sr.(based on the novel by)
- Stars
- Won 1 Oscar
- 11 wins & 8 nominations total
Nicholas Kadi
- Gaw
- (as Nameer El-Kadi)
Franck-Olivier Bonnet
- Aghoo - The Ulam Tribe
- (as Frank Olivier Bonnet)
Joy Boushel
- The Ulam Tribe
- (as Joy Boushell)
- Director
- Writers
- Gérard Brach(screenplay)
- J.H. Rosny Sr.(based on the novel by)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaBoth Ron Perlman and Everett McGill suffered frostbite, luckily they were able to heal completely. Despite the working conditions, they both enjoyed making the film.
- GoofsThere 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 versionsAll UK versions are cut by 8 secs and are missing a shot of a wolf on fire.
- ConnectionsFeatured in À propos de 'La guerre du feu' (1981)
Review
Featured review
Absolutely unforgettable
"Quest for Fire" (1981 - 100 minutes), under Jean-Jacques Annaud direction and written by Gérard Brach, was based on the book of J. H. Rosny. The movie develops a travel in time showing one of the biggest conquest of human kind: the domain of fire. It's a 80 thousand years ago beautiful drama. The Ulan tribe lives nearby a natural source of fire. When the fire went out, three members of the tribe have to search for a new flame. After several days of walking and having to face many dangerous situations like wild animals, down temperatures and even cannibal tribes, they found the Ivakas, a more evolved human group that had already discovered how to "make" fire. With locations in Kenya, Scotland, Island and Canada, the movie was based on scientific knowledge, showing convincing habitats and characters. The preparation work of the actors body language was done by the Anthropologist Desmond Morris and Anthony Burgess took care of the "talking" of these human ancestors. Almost an Anthropology documentary, this excellent movie shows at the end a scene that suggests the "discovery of love" between male and female. Absolutely unforgettable.
helpful•132
- paulorcbarros
- Jun 27, 2004
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $12,500,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $20,959,585
- Gross worldwide
- $20,962,615
- Runtime1 hour 40 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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