La guerre du feu (1981)

Director:

Jean-Jacques Annaud

Writers:

Gérard Brach (screenplay)
J.H. Rosny Sr. (novel)

Release Date:

12 February 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama

Tagline:

A Science Fantasy Adventure.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Prehistoric | Fire | Tribe | Mammoth | Trio

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 10 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Everett McGill	...	Naoh
Ron Perlman	...	Amoukar
Nicholas Kadi	...	Gaw (as Nameer El-Kadi)
Rae Dawn Chong	...	Ika
Gary Schwartz	...	The Ulam Tribe - Rouka
Naseer El-Kadi	...	The Ulam Tribe - Nam
Franck-Olivier Bonnet	...	The Ulam Tribe - Aghoo
Jean-Michel Kindt	...	The Ulam Tribe - Lakar
Kurt Schiegl	...	The Ulam Tribe - Faum
Brian Gill	...	The Ulam Tribe - Modoc
Terry Fitt	...	The Ulam Tribe - Hourk
Bibi Caspari	...	The Ulam Tribe - Gammla
Peter Elliott	...	The Ulam Tribe - Mikr
Michelle Leduc	...	The Ulam Tribe - Matr
Robert Lavoie	...	The Ulam Tribe - Tsor

Also Known As:

Quest for Fire (International: English title) (Philippines: English title)
The War of Fire (International: English title) (literal title)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

Canada | France | USA

Language:

None

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby (35 mm prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Spain:13 | UK:15 (cut) | Iceland:16 | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | Denmark:15 | New Zealand:R13 (re-rating) | Australia:MA (re-rating) | Australia:R (original rating) | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:18 | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Canada:13+ (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

Badlands, Alberta, Canada

Company:

International Cinema Corporation (ICC)

Trivia:

Desmond Morris choreographed the gestural and body language of the characters.

Goofs:

Continuity: In one shot there is no smoke coming from Amoukar's lantern, even though the previous and following shots show plenty of smoke billowing from the lantern.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "South Park: Bebe's Boobs Destroy Society (#6.10)" (2002)

Very underrated.. one of my top 20 Favorites.

Many of my friends laugh at me when I mention this movie. I don't know what makes so many of them hate it so.. Perhaps the lack of understandable dialogue? Too much like thinking to understand what is going on? Whatever it is, I am one of the few I know who feel this is a very underrated movie.. I know it is not accurate from a scientific perspective... The time line is all messed up.. but so what? I sat there in the theater just thinking.. "suppose live in our distant past WAS something like this movie. Fire=Life=Fire. Along comes a superior tribe and I realize that I could summon the flames at MY WILL. How powerful I would feel.. Almost G-d like! The photography is lush and there is a tinge of humor when the backward tribe learns to laugh. I enjoyed the story and the acting... everything. Rent it! See it twice if you must. Just maybe... we ARE looking back at ourselves.