The Substance of Fire (1996)

Isaac Geldhart is a Holocaust survivor who, overcome by grief at the recent death of his wife, seems determined to run his publishing firm into the ground by printing books that have no ... See full summary »

Director:

Daniel J. Sullivan

Writers:

Jon Robin Baitz (play), Jon Robin Baitz (screenplay)

Stars:

Tony Goldwyn, Benjamin Ungar, Timothy Hutton

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tony Goldwyn	...	Aaron Geldhart
Benjamin Ungar	...	Young Isaac Geldhart
Timothy Hutton	...	Martin Geldhart
Tom McDermott	...	Old Printer
Sarah Jessica Parker	...	Sarah Geldhart
George Morfogen	...	Otto the printer
Ron Rifkin	...	Isaac Geldhart
Lee Grant	...	Cora Cahn
Andrew Pang	...	Mr. Otani jr
Edmund Ikeda	...	Mr. Otani sr
Elizabeth Franz	...	Miss Barzakian
Gil Bellows	...	Val Chenard
Eric Bogosian	...	Gene Byck
Ronny Graham	...	Louis Foukold
John Sullivan	...	Stewart

Storyline

Isaac Geldhart is a Holocaust survivor who, overcome by grief at the recent death of his wife, seems determined to run his publishing firm into the ground by printing books that have no hope of financial success. His son Aaron, who also works at the company, grows frustrated with Isaac's emotional decline and attempts to take over the firm. The resulting crisis involves Isaac's other two children, his daughter Sarah and his dying son Martin.

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Plot Keywords:

holocaust | book | survivor | holocaust survivor | publishing | 

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Taglines:

Doing What Is Right... Could Cost Him Everything.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 March 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

A tûz melege

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$56,221 (USA) (14 March 1997)

Gross:

$56,221 (USA) (14 March 1997)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Miramax Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Social Services worker: It's a process. No one person can come to a conclusion.

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Connections

Referenced in Showbiz Today: Episode dated 28 August 1995 (1995)

User Reviews

A must see...If you didn't have the chance to see the play.....

This film is an excellent substitute. I cannot believe someone would post that the "öld guy should be put in an asylum"....obviously they have never had a family member with a serious illness; Ron Rifkin is very good as Isaac, the publisher being driven out of business by mass market mega-bookstores; He primarily publishes Holocaust and historical books of value; not paperback trash. Other films have addressed this issue, but not in detail, and with sensitivity.

Timothy Hutton, Sarah Jessica Parker and Tony Goldwyn play the children, who are each affected differently by the father's illness; Timothy Hutton is excellent as the younger son, whose father doesn't approve of his teaching profession. Sarah Jessica Parker, while not my favorite, is believable as the young daughter who has a flighty career as a children's show host. Tony Goldwyn is very good as the oldest; the son with a head for business, who is constantly at odds with his father (Rifkin).

I will not divulge the story, but suffice it to say that the dialogue is well-written, the story is not sugar-coated, and there is an excellent score by Joseph Vitarelli, which makes the audience feel touched by the story.

I wish films like this were more highly publicized than trash for cash Bruce Willis or Schwarzenegger movies.This film gives the audience credit for intelligence; and it makes me believe that there actually are talented filmmakers not just after the bottom dollar.