'Fahrenheit' red-hot at theaters in Eugene and around country.

Byline: Jim Feehan The Register-Guard

Cliff Volpe was moved to tears Sunday after seeing "Fahrenheit 9/11," Michael Moore's incendiary political documentary about the Bush administration's actions after the 2001 terrorist attacks.

A former Air Force pilot and graduate of the Air Force Academy, Volpe said Moore's documentary allowed American audiences a chance to see the real horrors of war in Iraq. And Volpe should know; he spent three months earlier this year backpacking through Iraq.

The genial 31-year-old Eugene native was between assignments as a border monitor in the former Soviet republic of Georgia when he trekked across northern Iraq from February to May this year, he said.

"It's a great movie. I felt like a lot of truth (about the war in Iraq) is finally coming out; at least the things I saw in Iraq," Volpe said, as he emerged from a matinee showing of the movie at the Bijou Art Cinemas in Eugene.

Volpe apparently wasn't the only one interested in seeing the controversial film on opening weekend. "Fahrenheit 9/11" took in a whopping $21.8 million in its first three days in the nation's theaters, becoming the first documentary ever to debut as Hollywood's top weekend film.

Ticket sales were brisk in Eugene and Springfield, too.

Movie patrons at the Bijou were greeted by a sign on the front door saying all of Sunday's performances were sold out. Friday and Saturday shows were also sold out at the 104-seat Eugene theater.

"For the first time ever at the Bijou we sold advance tickets," said Morgan Nilsen, night manager at the Bijou. Ticket sales eclipsed the previous top seller, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," Nilsen said.

Alyssa Palmer, 22, of Eugene said the documentary presented an unfiltered view of the war, such as gory scenes of Iraqi children killed by U.S. forces.

Palmer, a single mother of a 3-year-old boy, said she was horrified by the scene of a dead toddler tossed into the back of a small pickup as a grieving father asked God to bring his wrath upon the United States for killing his son.

"It's important for people to know these things are happening in Iraq," she said after seeing the movie Sunday at the Bijou.

Palmer, who admitted that she has never voted before, said she was so moved by the movie that she plans to register as a Democrat and cast her vote in the November election.

Volpe, a Democrat, said the movie only reinforced his belief in a regime change at the White House.

Responding to "Fahrenheit 9/11" has much to do with your political persuasion - many seeing the movie are already convinced of its message, while those opposed likely didn't see it this weekend. Critics charge that Moore is a little too loose with the facts and say his documentary is a classic example of preaching to the choir to further inflame people who are already opposed to the war in Iraq.

Left-wing groups, such as MoveOn, got Internet pledges from more than 100,000 members to see the movie this weekend. Conservative groups sought to discourage theaters from showing it, and asked the Federal Election Commission to examine its ads for potential violations of campaign-finance law regulating when commercials may feature a presidential candidate.

Marlene Casarez of Eugene said the movie brought several theatergoers to tears during the 1:15 p.m. sold-out Sunday showing of "Fahrenheit" at the Cinemark Theatre in the Gateway Mall in Springfield. "Fahrenheit 9/11" also sold out for the last two shows Saturday night.

Casarez said she was appalled that conservative organizations tried to thwart the showing of the movie.

"The movie will open their (Republicans') eyes. It would show them to vote the right way, Casarez, a registered Democrat, said.

Marlene's husband, Abbie Casarez, was also impressed.

"Every American should see it. I can't see why anyone should question it," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

CAPTION(S):

Bijou Art Cinemas night manager Morgan Nilsen turns away Leonard Cirino of Springfield on Sunday.