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The Substance of Fire
The Substance of Fire

The Substance of Fire

September 11, 1996
1h 42m
Drama
Critics
85/100
Story
82/100
Acting
88/100
Cinematography
90/100
Soundtrack
80/100
Audience
72/100
Story
78/100
Acting
83/100
Cinematography
85/100
Soundtrack
75/100

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.

Where to Watch

No streaming info available for this country.
Streaming availability data powered by JustWatch.

Details

Director
Daniel J. Sullivan
Cast
Tony Goldwyn, Timothy Hutton, Ron Rifkin, Sarah Jessica Parker, Lee Grant, Elizabeth Franz, Benjamin Ungar, Roger Rees, Viola Davis, Adolph Green
Release Date
September 11, 1996
Production
Miramax

Rating Distribution

User Ratings

5 Stars65%
1235
4 Stars25%
475
3 Stars8%
152
2 Stars2%
38
1 Stars0%
0
Total: 1,900 ratings

Reviews

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Mo
MovieCritic
Critic
December 15, 2023🇺🇸 US
90/100

An outstanding film that delivers on all fronts. The performances are stellar, and the direction is impeccable. Highly recommended for fans of the genre.

Story: 92Acting: 95Cinematography: 88Soundtrack: 85
Fi
FilmFan123
User
December 10, 2023🇬🇧 GB
98/100

Absolutely loved it! The story kept me engaged from start to finish, and the visuals were breathtaking. One of the best I've seen this year.

Story: 97Acting: 99Cinematography: 99Soundtrack: 96
Ci
CinemaExpert
Critic
December 5, 2023🇫🇷 FR
70/100

While the film has its moments, it falls short in some areas. The pacing is uneven, but the strong performances make up for it somewhat.

Story: 65Acting: 80Cinematography: 75Soundtrack: 60

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