Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud
Starring: Orson Welles, Jean-Jacques Annaud, Christian Benard, Franck-Olivier Bonnet, Anthony Burgess, Hassannali Damji, Peter Elliott, Terry Fitt, Michael Gruskoff, Lolamal Kapisisi, John Kemeny, Robert Lavoie, Everett McGill, Desmond Morris, Kurt Schiegl
Genre: Action & Adventure
Theatrical: 1980 Rated: R
Duration: 23
Summary: "Quest for Fire" is so detailed in its depiction of prehistoric man that it might have been made by time-traveling filmmakers. Instead it's a bold and timeless experiment by visionary director Jean-Jacques Annaud ("The Bear"), inviting scientific debate while presenting a fascinating, imaginary glimpse of humankind some 80,000 years ago. Using diverse locations in Kenya, Scotland, and Canada, Annaud tells the purely visual story of five tribes (some more advanced than others) who depend on fire for survival. They "steal" fire from nature, but the actual creation of fire remains elusive, lending profound mystery and majesty to the film's climactic, real-time display of fire-making ingenuity. Employing primitive language created by novelist Anthony Burgess and body language choreographed by anthropologist Desmond Morris, a unique ensemble of actors push the envelope of their profession, succeeding where they easily could've failed. They're carnal, violent, funny, curious, and intelligent; through them, and through the eons, we can recognize ourselves. "--Jeff Shannon"
Starring: Orson Welles, Jean-Jacques Annaud, Christian Benard, Franck-Olivier Bonnet, Anthony Burgess, Hassannali Damji, Peter Elliott, Terry Fitt, Michael Gruskoff, Lolamal Kapisisi, John Kemeny, Robert Lavoie, Everett McGill, Desmond Morris, Kurt Schiegl
Genre: Action & Adventure
Theatrical: 1980 Rated: R
Duration: 23
Summary: "Quest for Fire" is so detailed in its depiction of prehistoric man that it might have been made by time-traveling filmmakers. Instead it's a bold and timeless experiment by visionary director Jean-Jacques Annaud ("The Bear"), inviting scientific debate while presenting a fascinating, imaginary glimpse of humankind some 80,000 years ago. Using diverse locations in Kenya, Scotland, and Canada, Annaud tells the purely visual story of five tribes (some more advanced than others) who depend on fire for survival. They "steal" fire from nature, but the actual creation of fire remains elusive, lending profound mystery and majesty to the film's climactic, real-time display of fire-making ingenuity. Employing primitive language created by novelist Anthony Burgess and body language choreographed by anthropologist Desmond Morris, a unique ensemble of actors push the envelope of their profession, succeeding where they easily could've failed. They're carnal, violent, funny, curious, and intelligent; through them, and through the eons, we can recognize ourselves. "--Jeff Shannon"