Watch Clan of the Cave Bear
- R
- 1986
- 1 hr 38 min
-
5.4 (7,035)
Clan of the Cave Bear is a 1986 fantasy-drama film directed by Michael Chapman and starring Daryl Hannah, Pamela Reed, and James Remar. The movie is based on Jean M. Auel's bestselling novel of the same name, which tells the story of a young orphan girl named Ayla, who is adopted into a tribe of prehistoric cavemen. The story takes place in Europe during the last ice age, approximately 25,000 years ago. Ayla is a member of the Clan, a group of cavemen who live in caves and hunt for their food. Ayla is an outsider in the Clan, as she is not physically like the other members of the group. She is a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl, while the members of the Clan have dark hair and eyes. Ayla's family was killed in an earthquake, and she was left alone. She is found by Iza, an old woman who sees something special in her and decides to take her in as her own daughter.
Iza is a medicine woman in the Clan, and she teaches Ayla how to gather food, make tools and weapons, and how to use plants for medicine. Ayla is eager to learn and is often scolded by the Clan leader, Brun (played by James Remar), for being too curious and asking too many questions. However, Ayla's intelligence and resourcefulness soon become valuable to the tribe, and she begins to earn the respect of some of the other members of the Clan.
As Ayla grows up, she becomes more independent and begins to question the customs and beliefs of the Clan. She disagrees with their treatment of women, who are seen as inferior and are forced to do menial tasks. Ayla's ideas are met with resistance from the Clan, and she is often punished for her disobedience.
One of the few members of the Clan who befriends Ayla is Creb (played by James D'Arcy), the old Mog-ur, or mystic. Creb recognizes Ayla's intelligence and teaches her the secrets of his trade, including how to communicate with spirits through cave paintings. This skill becomes important when Ayla is expelled from the Clan and forced to survive on her own.
Throughout the movie, Ayla struggles to find her place in the world. She is torn between her loyalty to the Clan, her desire for independence, and her growing love for Jondalar (played by Thomas G. Waites), a man from a rival tribe who brings new ideas and technology to the area. Ayla's journey takes her across the frozen tundra, through dark caves, and into unfamiliar territory. She must use all of her knowledge and skills to survive and find her way home.
Clan of the Cave Bear is a visually stunning movie, with breathtaking landscapes and authentic costumes and sets. The movie features a talented cast, including Daryl Hannah in a standout performance as the strong-willed and determined Ayla. Pamela Reed is also excellent as Iza, bringing warmth and humor to the role of the medicine woman. James Remar portrays Brun with a mix of stoicism and cruelty, creating a compelling antagonist for Ayla to overcome.
Overall, Clan of the Cave Bear is an engrossing and entertaining movie that transports viewers back in time to a world where survival was a daily struggle and innovation was the key to success. The film's themes of independence, tolerance, and respect for nature are timeless and make it a must-see for fans of historical fiction and fantasy.
Clan of the Cave Bear is a 1986 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 38 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.4 and a MetaScore of 34.