‘Torn Apart’ Premiere Inspires Wishful Thinking

Movie premieres are fueled by hope. Be it the wish for big box office, good reviews or colleagues’ applause, hope is as much a part of opening night as the paparazzi’s flash.

Even by movie standards the hope quotient was stratospheric during the Wednesday night premiere at the AMC Century City of “Torn Apart.” The independently produced film tells the story of a love affair between a Palestinian school teacher and an Israeli soldier.

“I hope the film will help to create peace in the Middle East,” said director Jack Fisher. “I hope it makes a zillion dollars and I hope it helps me make a name for myself so I’ll be able to do the kind of projects I want with the kind of budgets I want.”

These were big hopes for a small film (under $2 million) that were echoed by others during the post-screening reception next door at Langan’s Brasserie.

“The film’s not going to change the world,” said Stanley Sheinbaum, who co-hosted the party. “But it’s got an interesting balance in that it shows the torture on both sides.”

The sides most represented at the reception seemed to be supporters of a liberal political position in Israel (literature for the Peace Now movement was available at the door) and members of Gregory Peck’s family. The actor’s daughter, Cecilia, stars in the film and her father and mother, Veronique, brothers Carey and Tony and sister-in-law, artist Lita Albuquerque, were all on hand.

Also attending were Sidney Poitier, Cheryl Tiegs, Ione Skye, George and Jolene Schlatter, Tristan Rogers, Susan Anspach, Jeff Wald, and former Gov. Pat Brown, who was there because his wife made him go.

“We got the invitation and it sounded interesting to me,” said Bernice Brown. “I can never get him to go to the movies. He comes home and after he has dinner he just wants to stay home.”