The Clan of the Cave Bear (1986)

Director:

Michael Chapman

Writers:

Jean M. Auel (novel)
John Sayles (writer)

Release Date:

17 January 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Fantasy

Tagline:

At the dawn of mankind, a woman led the way.

Plot:

A young Cro-Magnons woman is raised by Neanderthals.

Plot Keywords:

Neanderthal | Cave Bear | Survival | Cro Magnon | Spirits

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Daryl Hannah	...	Ayla
Pamela Reed	...	Iza
James Remar	...	Creb
Thomas G. Waites	...	Broud
John Doolittle	...	Brun
Curtis Armstrong	...	Goov
Martin Doyle	...	Grod
Tony Montanaro	...	Zoug
Mike Muscat	...	Dorv
John Wardlow	...	Droog
Keith Wardlow	...	Crug
Barbara Duncan	...	Uka
Gloria Lee	...	Oga
Janne Mortil	...	Ovra
Lycia Naff	...	Uba

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

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

Certification:

Iceland:14 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:11 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Australia:M | UK:15 (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Cathedral Grove, MacMillan Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Decade

Trivia:

A planned back-to-back sequel never made it into production.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Narrator: Ayla walked with the Cave Bear. She had spoken out for Creb because she loved him. The sign had finally come. She understood the vision. Durc was of the Clan, and one day he would be their leader. She must find her own people. She must walk alone. Everything she had lived through had prepared her for this journey - and she was not afraid. For the first time Ayla felt the strength of her own spirit.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Sex and Death 101 (2007)

Soundtrack:

HEROINE

all reviwers must be knee-jerk fundamentalists

so far, aside from the comments here at IMDB, i have not seen one positive review for this film. i just don't get it. i honestly think it's a political assault against a film that threatens reviewers jealously guarded dogmas.

for me the film is escapism at it's finest. it's a film about cave dwellers that doesn't condescend by having the characters speak in english, but instead in subtitled "neanderthal". it gives the film believability as far as i'm concerned.

it's not a film about great conflicts and battles in pre-history, it's merely a character study about the final days of the neanderthals and how they are threatened by cro-magnons (daryl hannah).

it isn't an overly flowery movie. a couple of times it gets down and dirty in it's portrayal of mob rules mentality and racism. maybe the film offends viewers because they see themselves in the characters and don't like the comparison. all of the unpleasant behaviors, although simplified in the movie, still happen today in "more civilized times". people are still threatened by anyone different, women still get raped, sexism hasn't gone away and populations are still ruled by ruthless dictators.

for me, clan of the cave bear is a totally believeable story of life as it may have been 50,000 years ago. it protrays primitive people with primitave language, laws and beliefs with an honest affection. it's more of a "documentary" about daryl hanna's trials and tribulations in her adopted tribe than it is a plotted story. it comes off more like real life.

while anyone is entitled not to like the movie for whatever reason, i find the movie highly entertaining and an excellent escape into the world as it might actually have been long ago. it easily holds a spot in my top 50 list for it's totally unique experience.

i give it a 10 for bravely going where few films dare to and succeeding admirably without following boring hollywood formulas. it just doesn't deserve it's bad reviews at all. i don't give 10's out to many films either.