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La guerre du feu (1981)
 
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Directed
by:
Jean-Jacques
Annaud |
COUNTRY
Canada/France/USA |
GENRE
Drama/Historical |
ENGLISH TITLE
Quest
for Fire |
NORWEGIAN TITLE
Ildkrigen |
RUNNING
TIME
100
minutes |
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Produced
by:
Véra Belmont
Jacques Dorfmann
Denis Héroux
John Kemeny |
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Written by
(based on the novel by J. H. Rosny):
Gérard Brach |
Review
Although newer research has invalidated some of the facts on which La
guerre du feu is based, the film still remains one of the most
authentic and serious cinematic reproductions of human life and
development during the Stone Age (more accurately the Paleolithic Age).
French filmmaker Jean-Jacques Annaud used a 1911 novel by Belgian writer
J. H. Rosny as the basis for a devoted and inspirational look at how
Homo erectus, Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens (in
Cro-Magnon form)
could have co-existed somewhere in southern Europe 80,000 years ago.
Their hardships and successes are portrayed with curiosity and inquiring
realism by Annaud, and the performances and production values are
incredibly impressive – particularly since the lack of a recognizable
language leaves the actors so exposed. Everett McGill and Rae Dawn Chong
both deliver career-best performances, and Ron Perlman, arguably the
planet’s best-equipped man for a part in this film, provides perfect
balancing. La guerre du feu is a remarkable cinematic achievement
in form and production, but it is just as much a warm and entertaining
love story that makes you honoured to be human.
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