Hollywood Can Relate to This

The Scene: The celebrity screening of “This Is My Life” on Tuesday at the Avco Cinemas in Westwood. The film--an emotional comedy about the roller-coaster relationship between two daughters and their comedian mother--marked the directorial debut of Nora Ephron, who wrote the scripts for “Silkwood” and “When Harry Met Sally.” After the screening, guests moved along to a party at Dominick’s in West Hollywood.

Who Was There: “This Is My Life” stars Julie Kavner, Samantha Mathis and Gaby Hoffmann were present at both locales with kind words and smiles for the paparazzi. Co-star Carrie Fisher stopped by the party but had no words for the press. Others among the 700 packing the theater or at the party were Meryl Streep, Christian Slater, Rosanna Arquette, Valerie Harper and rock singer Suzanna Hoffs.

The Buzz: How this movie hit home for the Hollywood apparatchiks present. “It reminded me completely about my own life over and over again,” said director Ephron. Mathis, who played a mom-sick teen-ager in the movie, said, “My mother (Bibi Besch) is an actress, so I know what it’s like to be on the road.”

Cliche of the Day: “I laughed, I cried.”

Hollywood Moments: As she walked out of the theater during a scene in which her character was particularly effusive, Mathis whispered to a friend, “I just can’t stand to watch this.” Ephron, as she sat out a scene, said, “This is a part of the movie I’ve seen one too many times.”

Chow: The customary popcorn and soda were handed out during the screening. The Real Food was had at Dominick’s, where, oddly, a Thanksgiving-like meal of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, boiled carrots and cranberry sauce was served.

Stubble Watch: Christian Slater made the fashion statement of the night with his wolf-man facial foliage a la Keanu Reeves. Unfortunately, it’s not the kind of statement that comes on and off easily.

Quoted: A young female movie usher had a quick question when told by a co-worker that Slater was in their midst: “Is he with a girl?”