JUST WATCHED: ‘Quest for Fire’

I am sure you already guessed that these guys are not only going to find fire, but they were going to actually learn how to make it by rubbing sticks together. Yes, that does happen and the screen capture above was taken from that scene and it really is the signature scene due to Everett McGill’s fantastic performance and look of fascination as he watches fire be created by man for the first time. The scene is impressive, especially after watching an hour of grunts and groans, it really hammers home what Annaud was trying to accomplish and the fact the story is effectively told without using any real words is a testament to the actors and their ability to emote primitive behavior and fascination with the discovery of the new.

The film has a running time of only 100 minutes and while the amount of time passed in the film isn’t disclosed, I got the impression it wasn’t exactly all that long, perhaps a week, two at the most. I bring this up because the discovery of fire is not the only advancement these Cro-Magnons experience in this short amount of time. These advancements include the early contact and initial signs of taming wild beasts, a discovery of humor, a better understanding of right and wrong, weapon technology and most notably the difference between lust and love.

While the moment when Amoukar discovers he is eating the remains of another Cro-Magnon and spits out the meat in disgust is a highly important piece in the evolutionary chain presented in the story, as is the moment in which they momentarily tame a wooly mammoth, the growth shown by Naoh as his early lust for Ika grows into an actual love is far more important to the overall story and the effect it has on the viewer. The Naoh/Ika relationship begins with Naoh raping Ika, this is later followed by another scene in which he begins having sex with her while burying her face in the dirt (pictured below). The tone changes however when Ika stops his brutish ways, turns over and shows him how sex in the mud is properly done. Of course the scene gives you a laugh, not at the movie itself, but at the situation. I am sure women are going to love the depiction of early woman telling man how it is supposed to be done.

While I would never really have the desire to watch Quest for Fire again I do believe it is an excellent example of unique and effective filmmaking. I especially thought it was important to watch this movie before the upcoming release of the upcoming Warner Bros. release 10,000 B.C. directed by Roland Emmerich. 10,000 B.C. already looks like a complete disaster and I can presently only wonder what language will be spoken in that film. Will they speak cavemanese? Will they use subtitles? Quest for Fire doesn’t even use subtitles, but the main difference I can already see between the two films is that Quest was never designed as a blockbuster film, which is exactly what WB is doing with 10,000 B.C., which stars two relative unknowns in Camilla Belle and Steven Strait and with The Day After Tomorrow‘s Emmerich at the helm I think we already know what to expect. However, if WB plans on releasing a PG-13 rated prehistoric blockbuster in which the teen stars don’t speak a word of English and expects a monetary success I am going to have to suggest they guess again. Then again, since they have pyramids being built 7,000 years before Egypt’s first pyramid I have to assume some liberties have been taken with the historical details, which automatically gives the movie a pass in that department.

The full trailer for 10,000 B.C. is supposed to hit with I Am Legend this weekend as we currently only have the generic teaser, which fails to give us much insight into the film at all. Luckily I don’t have to worry about that film until March of 2008, and I don’t expect this numbered film to do as well as WB’s 300. On top of everything else it appears there is also a theory that some Christians (those that believe the Earth is only 6,000-years-old) will be boycotting the film since the title suggests a time in which the Earth didn’t actually exist. While doing research for this article that was the first I had heard of that boycott theory, but I thought it was fun to mention and if Christians are going to have a problem with that film I wonder what they think of Quest for Fire being dated 80,000 years ago.

Speaking of Quest for Fire, the topic at hand, if you have made it this far into this article then I definitely suggest you give this film a chance, just be sure you are in the mood for it. I had this thing sitting on my shelf for about two months before I finally popped it into the player. While I do think it is an important moment in the history of film, and one filmmakers can learn from when exploring similar characteristics in their films, such as say an alien race, I also think it is a film only to be viewed when you are really up for it.

On top of all else, Annaud did a fantastic job in telling the story and keeping the viewer entertained. His use of visuals and his ability to wrap the story up in a nice little bow is incredibly cool as you will notice the image above is the first shot from the film, mouse over it for a look at the final shot and I think you will get my point.

If you force yourself to watch this flick you are going to be in for a long night as it is hardly an action packed epic. While it has its moments of action it is a film you must pay attention to at all times as everything is told through gestures. It’s not like you can get up and listen to it from another room, this is a foreign language film that requires your attention for the duration. I am glad I gave it a shot and I believe there are a few of you out there that will also be just as entertained.

If you need one more example as to what this film is all about I offer up this video depicting the first time the Cro-Magnons learn about humor and another scene where they steal fire from the cannibal tribe. The only problem is that some jack ass has put some messed up soundtrack over it, but it was either this clip or one showing you the end of the movie, which if you want to watch you can do so here.

To get a larger look at all of the images and then some in this article click here and if you would like to buy it on DVD click here.

EXTRA INFO: Naomi Campbell was supposed to be shown playing Ika from a distance as she was only 7 years-old, but in listening to the commentary Rae Dawn Chong comments that the shot was never used.

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