The Quest

Van Damme steps behind the camera

The Quest is the only feature film directed by Jean-Claude Van Damme. The project, first titled Enter the New Dragon, grew out of a story written with Frank Dux, the man whose account inspired Bloodsport (1988). The final screenplay is credited to Paul Mones and Steven Klein, a pseudonym for Gene Quintano. Dux later sued Van Damme for compensation; the jury found for the actor in November 1998. Shooting took place in Thailand from March to May 1995, with a fort built in the mountains above Mae Hong Son, then in Montreal for the New York scenes. Kristopher Van Varenberg, Van Damme's son, plays the young Chris.

One tournament, one style per country

As in Bloodsport, the Ghang-gheng pits champions from around the world against each other, each with his own style. Van Damme cast real practitioners: Kōji Kitao, the 60th yokozuna in sumo history under the name Futahaguro, represents Japan; César Carneiro, the capoeirista seen in Only the Strong, Brazil; Ong Soo Han, a taekwondo black belt, Korea. Abdel Qissi, Van Damme's final opponent in Lionheart, plays Khan the Mongol; Peter Malota is the Spaniard. Steven Lambert coordinated the fights and Malota contributed to the choreography. Dubois himself learns Muay Thai on an island off Siam before the tournament: a practitioner will recognise Thai elbows and knees mixed with Van Damme's spinning kicks and splits.

Figures and reception

The budget is disputed: 30 million dollars is the figure most often quoted, 12 million according to Van Damme himself. The film opened in the United States on 26 April 1996 at number one for the weekend, finishing with 21.7 million dollars in North America and 57.4 million worldwide (Box Office Mojo). In France, released on 24 July 1996, it sold 652,168 tickets according to JP's Box-Office. Critics found it too close to Bloodsport: 14% on Rotten Tomatoes, but a B CinemaScore and praise for the production design and for Roger Moore as the con-man lord.

Who it's for

For fans of tournament films, after Bloodsport and Kickboxer, and for the chance to see a former yokozuna in a movie ring.