In a film that might have been called 'West Bank Story' an innocent but forbidden friendship between a young Israeli soldier and the Arab girl-next-door blossoms into romance when the two are reunited in a hostile, rock-tossing Palestinian community on the wrong side of the Jordan River. The lovers try their best to overcome the adversity of their environment, but someone should have done what the title suggests to an early draft of the script before it ever went before a camera. Aside from all the soft focus inanities and syrupy music score, the film is characterized by inadequate acting and direction, a poorly recorded soundtrack (actually a blessing in disguise), and a Harlequin Romance view of Middle Eastern politics. It's almost worth the price of admission for the unintended laughs, for example when Ben tells Leila they should leave their troubled homeland to live together somewhere in peace and tranquility, and then suggests New York City (!!) as a possibility.
7 Reviews
Absolutely The Worst Film I've Seen In Ages
truestudio11 November 2010
Warning: Spoilers
This thing...I hesitate to even call it a movie...was so horrible in every way that I really wish that everyone who participated in it had been banned from ever being part of the film business for the rest of their lives. The acting was abominable and yet it was topped in atrociousness by the pathetically bad "script" and the shamefully no talent directing. How the hell do you film on location in Israel/Palestine and manage to make it look like you are shooting on a back lot or in the hills outside Burbank? There have been many stupidly offensive portrayals of Arabs in Hollywood but "Torn Apart" managed to not only make Arabs seem vicious but it portrayed them as idiotic, infantile and barely out of the dark ages as well. Did anyone in the crew bother to take a look at the actual clothing and customs of the people around them? What the hell were the Arab characters and extras wearing? Clothing out of some ridiculous Bible story? The main characters had the chemistry of a turtle and a cow trying to be "in love". Their behavior was completely unbelievable- like they were American teens who were breaking a curfew after a prom rather than being an Israeli soldier and a Palestinian girl who were in love (because they played together sometimes as kids????). The film gets one star for good intentions but for crying out loud- do some damn research and get your thick heads out of L.A. before you try to attempt something like this. Awful, offensive and dumb, dumb, dumb!!!!
A deeply heartening story of importance to our world today.
aaronb-1126 September 2007
The film takes us on a romantic journey, set against the backdrop of hatred and violence in the Middle East. Adrian Padar and Cecilia Peck play star crossed lovers who try to overcome impossible odds to survive and to attempt to prove that their love can withstand the threat of death. An amazingly engrossing and compelling story that kept me on the edge of my seat and made me fall in love with the characters, who were so real that it was uncanny. I recommend this to all, and have shown this to all my friends. Should definitely not be missed an seen with friends, family and romantic partners. It is also a very good analysis of the ongoing problems between Arabs and Jews in Israel, that resonates for Americans as well, due to their involvement in Iraq and other Moslem countries.
Movie totally unrealistic
babyshoe30 November 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Sorry to go against the grain, but Torn Apart is nothing more than a poorly done melodramatic soap opera that takes place in Israel. The main character does things as an Israeli soldier, that no soldier would do...anywhere.
The script totally neglects the real life of a soldier as it has him go from the west bank to an apparent vacation to Gaza all within a short time. In the scene where he is guarding in Gaza and the boy is drowning, there are many adult arabs all on the beach watching and wailing...but not one of them tries to save the boy!? Our hero Ben, doesn't call any of his fellow soldiers to go with him. He goes to the beach and leaves his weapon on the beach! To any soldier watching, this is just totally ridiculous.
But in the world of the overly melodramatic this is a plot point that allows for more drama as the soldiers search for the stolen weapon. And of course, our hero Ben grabs another weapon and kills the boy who is shooting with his stolen weapon.
The riot scenes are equally ridiculous. The whole movie is filled with this kind of disregard for fact. The only thing the writer and director did is miss the truth on the arab side as much on the Israeli side.
These are not characters...they are caricatures. I only saw this movie once, but in one viewing I caught so many mistakes it is embarrassing. One example: why does his beret change color from the burial scene to the next scene? Answer: the filmmakers did not pay much attention.
Waiting for much better, Mike
The script totally neglects the real life of a soldier as it has him go from the west bank to an apparent vacation to Gaza all within a short time. In the scene where he is guarding in Gaza and the boy is drowning, there are many adult arabs all on the beach watching and wailing...but not one of them tries to save the boy!? Our hero Ben, doesn't call any of his fellow soldiers to go with him. He goes to the beach and leaves his weapon on the beach! To any soldier watching, this is just totally ridiculous.
But in the world of the overly melodramatic this is a plot point that allows for more drama as the soldiers search for the stolen weapon. And of course, our hero Ben grabs another weapon and kills the boy who is shooting with his stolen weapon.
The riot scenes are equally ridiculous. The whole movie is filled with this kind of disregard for fact. The only thing the writer and director did is miss the truth on the arab side as much on the Israeli side.
These are not characters...they are caricatures. I only saw this movie once, but in one viewing I caught so many mistakes it is embarrassing. One example: why does his beret change color from the burial scene to the next scene? Answer: the filmmakers did not pay much attention.
Waiting for much better, Mike
Romeo and Juliet in war-torn Middle East.
Sharon-134 March 1999
This is an excellent movie whose love scenes are more richly created by the real life romance of Adrian Pasdar and Cecilia Peck. Pasdar actually went through the Israel's rigorous military boot camp to perfect his character.
Torn Apart "Trivia"
cverbelun10 October 2007
Warning: Spoilers
My favorite quote from the film was when Ben said this to Laila's cousin Mansour: "If a Jew wants to listen, shouldn't you (a Palestinian) be willing to talk?" But for me, the most interesting part of the film was in the commentary on the DVD, when they discussed the fact that the fight scenes became real by accident. See Jack Fisher's quote below. This was a very good film, and everyone should see it.
"The script went out the window when an extra 200 real Palestinians showed up." Mr. Fisher explains that they were responding to the call to prayer, and "the mosque was next to where we were shooting. They heard the shouting Arabs...I guarantee that what you see there is real," he continues. "I didn't have to tell them anything about Method acting. Somebody put a gash through Cecilia's forehead with a rifle, and Adrian was beaten up. The extras didn't know what was going on."
"The script went out the window when an extra 200 real Palestinians showed up." Mr. Fisher explains that they were responding to the call to prayer, and "the mosque was next to where we were shooting. They heard the shouting Arabs...I guarantee that what you see there is real," he continues. "I didn't have to tell them anything about Method acting. Somebody put a gash through Cecilia's forehead with a rifle, and Adrian was beaten up. The extras didn't know what was going on."
Unappealing Middle Eastern romance
lor_11 May 2023
My review was written in March 1990 after watching the movie at a Times Square screening room.
"Torn Apart" looks at the Middle East crisis from a different angle, using a "Romeo and Juliet" type of love story, but the result is a flat picture. Best chances are in commercial tv use.
Adrian Pasdar, currently starring in Fox' "Vital Signs", toplines as a Jew who is brought by his dad (Barry Primus) to New York from Israel after the six-day war in 1967. He returns in 1973 to serve in the Israeli army and becomes romantically involved with Laila (Cecilia Peck), an Arab girl he grew up with.
Of course both families are dead set against such a liaison, but matters are made worse when Peck goes to a friendly Arab professor (Arnon Zadok) for advice. He's a liberal who hopes for improved relations between the Palestinians and Israelis, while Peck's family and friends begin to thin of her as a traitor. All hell breaks loose in a tragic ending tha unfortunately doesn't have the grace of the Shakespeare play.
Debuting director Jack Fisher gets good atmosphere from his location filming in Israel, but pic founders due to an awkward structure built around an undelivered letter and Pasdar's reminiscences. Despite its R rating, film is too bland for its own good and definitely not strong enough to capture the attention of demanding theatrical audiences.
Cast is generally effective, with swarthy Pasdar passing for a sabra, and the graceful Peck, daughter of Gregory Peck in her biggest screen role to date, surprisingly convincing in an ethnic role. Yaffit Mazar is well-matched to Peck in portraying the same character in the '67 prolog.
Exec producer Peter Arnow contributes an interesting, melancholy musical score.
"Torn Apart" looks at the Middle East crisis from a different angle, using a "Romeo and Juliet" type of love story, but the result is a flat picture. Best chances are in commercial tv use.
Adrian Pasdar, currently starring in Fox' "Vital Signs", toplines as a Jew who is brought by his dad (Barry Primus) to New York from Israel after the six-day war in 1967. He returns in 1973 to serve in the Israeli army and becomes romantically involved with Laila (Cecilia Peck), an Arab girl he grew up with.
Of course both families are dead set against such a liaison, but matters are made worse when Peck goes to a friendly Arab professor (Arnon Zadok) for advice. He's a liberal who hopes for improved relations between the Palestinians and Israelis, while Peck's family and friends begin to thin of her as a traitor. All hell breaks loose in a tragic ending tha unfortunately doesn't have the grace of the Shakespeare play.
Debuting director Jack Fisher gets good atmosphere from his location filming in Israel, but pic founders due to an awkward structure built around an undelivered letter and Pasdar's reminiscences. Despite its R rating, film is too bland for its own good and definitely not strong enough to capture the attention of demanding theatrical audiences.
Cast is generally effective, with swarthy Pasdar passing for a sabra, and the graceful Peck, daughter of Gregory Peck in her biggest screen role to date, surprisingly convincing in an ethnic role. Yaffit Mazar is well-matched to Peck in portraying the same character in the '67 prolog.
Exec producer Peter Arnow contributes an interesting, melancholy musical score.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
