Film Review - Quest for Fire

Quest for Fire is a French film that tells the story of a tribe of primitive humans that lose the source of their fire (they haven't discovered how to make fire yet), three of them set off to find some more. I remember watching this many years ago and enjoying it. I'm glad I re watched it though as I missed some of its brilliance with younger eyes.

Ron Perlman is always good to watch, but he plays a very good caveman. In fact the whole cast do a great job, their job is made more difficult by the fact that all communication is gestural or in a gutteral proto-language. It's not a faithful recreation of the era, but it does evoke the feeling of the challenges and circumstances they faced.

The quest itself results in some wonderful moments, made all the more poignant by the crucial nature of fire for these people. Some of the effects haven't dated well, but that's only a minor complaint. All in all this is an excellent film that tells an interesting story, filled with discovery. Highly recommended.

80,000 years ago a primitive tribe desperately guards its most valued possession fire. They know how to tend it, how to use it, bit its creation remains a mystery. During an attack by neighbouring tribe their flame is lost and so begins an epic, obstacle-filled quest to find another source of the element so precious in their struggle for survival.

Quest for Fire is available from Amazon (and well worth a watch)