Synopsis
In the prehistoric world, a Cro-Magnon tribe depends on an ever-burning source of fire, which eventually extinguishes. Lacking the knowledge to start a new fire, the tribe sends three warriors on a quest for more. With the tribe's future at stake, the warriors make their way across a treacherous landscape full of hostile tribes and monstrous beasts. On their journey, they encounter Ika, a woman who has the knowledge they seek.
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Cast
- Everett McGillNaoh
- Ron PerlmanAmoukar
- Nicholas KadiGaw
- Rae Dawn ChongIka
- Gary SchwartzRouka - tribu Ulam
- Naseer El-KadiNam - tribu Ulam
- Franck-Olivier BonnetAghoo - tribu Ulam
- Jean-Michel KindtLakar - tribu Ulam
- Kurt SchieglFaum - tribu Ulam
- Brian GillinModoc - tribu Ulam
Recommendations
- 100
The New York Times
Quest for Fire is more than just a hugely enterprising science lesson, although it certainly is that. It's also a touching, funny and suspenseful drama about prehumans. - 100
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
The title is a tease: Quest For Fire is the quest for understanding, the quest for an answer, the quest for The Answer. Quest For Fire maintains that in the space of 80,000 years we have walked a long, long way, and have come scarcely any distance at all. [12 Feb 1982] - 88
Chicago Sun-Times
These characters and their quest began to grow on me, and by the time the movie was over I cared very much about how their lives would turn out. - 88
Washington Post
Quest for Fire expresses an eloquent partiality for civilized virtues, especially companionship, sexual bonding and parenthood. [05 Mar 1982, p.B12] - 80
Variety
Jean-Jacques Annaud's Quest for Fire is an engaging prehistoric yarn that happily never degenerates into a club and lion skin spinoff of Star Wars and resolutely refuses to bludgeon the viewer with facile or gratuitous effects. - 80
Newsweek
Quest for Fire is diverting and well made, and kids should love it. Chong is delightful as the first feminist heroine. And as bloody and brutish as the fights are, the film is resoundingly sweet-natured at heart. [15 Feb 1982, p.61] - 60
Time Out
If you have a weakness for exotic scenery (filmed in Canada, Scotland, Kenya), and some curiosity about the everyday life of prehistoric humankind, you will probably take some mild pleasure in this saga of the Ulam tribe's search for a way to light their fire. - 60
TV Guide Magazine
Although occasionally bleak, the film affords many pleasurable moments, showing early man learning to laugh and expressing delight and amazement at the sight of fire.
