CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR

US, 1985, 98 minutes, Colour.
Daryl Hannah, Pamela Reed, James Remar, Thomas G. Waites, Curtis Armstrong.
Directed by Michael Chapman.

Clan of the Cave Bear is based on a series of novels by Jean M. Auel. Jean Auel recreates the Cro- Magnon period and takes us back into prehistoric times. She did extensive research on Eskimos and pygmies to give some kind of credibility to her speculations about this period. During the filming, it is said, she did more research on archaeology and also developing a series of sign language which is used in the film. The adaptation for the screen was done by veteran writer-director John Sayles, writer of many popular genre films but director of much more interesting and serious films like Lone Star, Men With Guns, Sunshine City, Silver City.

Daryl Hannah was at the beginning of her career and had made a splash in Splash. Pamela Reed is a veteran character actress and James Remar often appears as a villain in films.

Prehistoric times were presented popularly in the 1960s with Raquel Welch and Ray Harryhausen effects in One Million Years BC. There was also the prologue to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. In 1985, Jean Jacques Annaud made Quest for Fire.

The direction is by Michael Chapman, better known from the 1970s onwards as a cinematographer. He directed very few films and just prior to this one made the sports movie, All the Right Moves, with Tom Cruise.

The cinematography is by Jan de Bont, the Dutch cinematographer who photographed many action films and went into decision himself with such epics as Speed and Twister.

1.Audience interest in prehistoric times? Thirty-five thousand years ago? The Cro- Magnon period? The re-creation of the period, the tribes, their rituals, sign communication, their way of living, the primitive aspects, the more sophisticated aspects? Government, rules? Religion?

2.The cinematography, the locations, the musical score?

3.The title, the focus on the clan, the survival of the clan? Natural disasters? Brutal brutality within the clan? Religious dimensions?

4.The story of Ayla: as a young girl, the earthquake, her losing her parents? The attack by the cave lion? Her being able to survive? Her being found by Iza? Her being taken into the clan? Brun as the leader of the clan? The clan on the move, the search for safety, where to stay for the winter? Brun and his hesitation about allowing Ayla to stay, considering her ugly? His giving Iza permission for Ayla to stay – especially when Ayla is able to show an ideal cave? The holy man, Kreb, and his decision that Ayla is approved of by the spirits? Ayla growing up, Iza and Kreb and their training her? The healing magic? The other members of the tribe, their continued suspicions of her? Brun’s son, Broud, his attitude, his beating her, his raping her? Her stance against him?

5.Ayla and her individuality within the tribe, her magic powers, healing? Her training with weapons (even though these are forbidden for women)? The sling, the killing of the wolf – and its trying to take the clan children? The reaction of the elders? Their meeting, discussion, judgment? The curse?

6.Ayla and her being exiled? Her having to be by herself in the wilderness, the winter? Ayla giving birth to a son, Durc? Her fulfilling the time of exile? Their amazement when she returns? Durc and his difficulty with his eyes? He and his mother being allowed back into the clan?

7.The Great Gathering of the Clans? The celebration? The fight with the cave bear? Brug, his place in the clan, his Cro-Magnon? face, his death?

8.The impact on Ayla? Her sensing that she had something more for her life? Iza and her love for her, her looking after her, Iza’s illness? Her death and Ayla’s grief?

9.Broud, his being the leader of the clan? Kreb being replaced as the holy man? Broud and his dominating Ayla, her resistance? His cursing her? Ayla and her leaving her son with the group, her leaving? The enigmatic promise of her future?

10.How well did the film create its characters, their language, signing? Indications of primitive style, appearance, demeanour, ways of walking? Fighting?

11.The sympathetic character of Iza, her place in the tribe, her finding Ayla, caring for her, her death? Kreb and his religious role, sympathy, training Ayla? The end of his time as the holy man? Brun and his ruling of the clan?

12.The next generation, Broud and his brutality, Guve and his succeeding Kreb? The prospects for the clan?

13.Popular kind of entertainment – the blend of the action film with the anthropological study?