The Substance of Fire

An acclaimed cast of stars shines in this powerful motion picture! Ron Rifkin (TV's ER, WOLF) plays a headstrong book publisher who refuses to "sell out" by releasing anything commercial ... even when his business partner's son (Tony Goldwyn -- BOUNCE, GHOST, KISS THE GIRLS) discovers a sure-fire best-seller. As the father's stubbornness pushes their company to the brink of bankruptcy, the son must convince his brother and sister (Timothy Hutton -- BEAUTIFUL GIRLS, THE GENERAL'S DAUGHTER; Sarah Jessica Parker -- TV's SEX AND THE CITY) to join him in a fight that will save the business ... but may destroy their family! Praised by critics for its unforgettable performances, THE SUBSTANCE OF FIRE is extraordinary entertainment!

The shadow of the Holocaust hangs over Ron Rifkin's debonair publisher, a supremely intelligent but arrogant man who is destroying his tony company with a self-indulgent project. This catalyst for a family crisis unites his children, Sarah Jessica Parker, Timothy Hutton, and Tony Goldwyn, in an effort to save him and their business. There is a strong emotional core to this adapted play, but as past and present collide, the focus shifts uncomfortably from father to son, convincing us that part of the story remained on a cutting room floor. Just watch this for the beautifully shaded performances, especially by Rifkin. --Rochelle O'Gorman