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Trailer

The Substance of Fire

1996Movie1 h 42 minR

Drama
48
MediocreGoodWatch score
IMDb5.9Metacritic54–Rotten Tomatoes60%34%

A deeply moving, melancholic drama movie about family and everyday modern life, with standout characters and performances.

Good for date night · friends night · teens

Skip it if you want fast pacing

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Not for laughs, scares or warmth.

Movies with

Story

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

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.

Feels like

  • Dysfunctional Family
  • Grief and Loss
  • Intense Drama
  • Publishing Industry
  • Moral Dilemmas
  • Intellectual
  • Character-Driven
  • Thought-Provoking

Cast

24 of 28

Crew

Directed by
Daniel J. Sullivan
Written by
Jon Robin Baitz
Produced by
Jon Robin Baitz, Randy Finch, Ron Kastner
Music by
Joseph Vitarelli

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

September 11, 1996 · 1 h 42 min · R

Released
September 11, 1996
Runtime
1 h 42 min
Age rating
R
Genres
Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
31 countries

Q&A

3 questions, like "Where can I stream The Substance of Fire?"

Questions about The Substance of Fire

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Substance of Fire?

Hoopla

In the United States, The Substance of Fire is free with ads on Hoopla. You can rent or buy it from Fandango At Home.

Is The Substance of Fire worth watching?

48
MediocreGoodWatch score

Reviews are weak, with a GoodWatch score of 48 (IMDb 5.9, Rotten Tomatoes 60%, and Metacritic 54). Critics rate it higher (57 out of 100) than audiences (47).

Is The Substance of Fire plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (10 of 10) and pathos (9 of 10) more than on its plot.