The Substance of Fire

Overview

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.

Directed by Daniel J. Sullivan

Top cast

Tony Goldwyn

Aaron Geldhart

Timothy Hutton

Martin Geldhart

Ron Rifkin

Isaac Geldhart

Sarah Jessica Parker

Sarah Geldhart

Lee Grant

Cora Cahn

Elizabeth Franz

Miss Barzakian

B

Benjamin Ungar

Young Issac

Roger Rees

Max

Viola Davis

Nurse

Adolph Green

Mr. Musselblatt

Debra Monk

Martha Hackett

Tom McDermott

Old Printer

George Morfogen

Otto the Printer

Andrew Pang

Mr. Otani Jr

Edmund Ikeda

Mr. Otani Sr

Gil Bellows

Val Chenard

Eric Bogosian

Gene Byck

Ronny Graham

Louis Foukold

J

John Sullivan

Stewart

S

Sophia Salguero

Rachel

Details