PORTLAND (AP) – People drove from as far away as Bangor and waited patiently in line to see Michael Moore’s controversial “Fahrenheit 9/11” documentary at one of three theaters showing the film in Maine.

Jacob Podsiaelo of Bangor said it was worth the drive and 3 hours in line to see Friday’s matinee at The Movies.

“I’m just really excited about this movie – I’ve been waiting over a year,” Podsiaelo said. “I like that (Moore) has the courage to report what I feel is the truth.”

The movie, which represents Moore’s critical take on President Bush and his policies following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, can be seen only at The Movies in Portland, Eveningstar Cinema in Brunswick and Railroad Square Cinema in Waterville.

On Friday, all six showings sold out at The Movies. The other theaters also were overwhelmed.

“We’ve gotten more phone calls on this than any other film we’ve ever shown. This is really unprecedented,” said Alan Sanborn, who said his phone was ringing constantly with people seeking tickets.

Maine native Chris Lehane, now a San Francisco political consultant hired by Moore to handle the national opening of the movie, reassured Mainers that eventually everyone who wants to see the movie will be able to.

“Despite the efforts of some who oppose people seeing Fahrenheit 9/11,’ everyone will get a chance to see this film,” Lehane said Friday.

In Portland, Nancy Timberlake said she had waited two years to see the movie, ever since Moore first mentioned the project.

“I know that a lot of people are going because it’s just going to reaffirm the way we’ve been feeling for the last four years, but I’m hoping there’s enough in it to sway people who may be on the fence,” she said.

Timberlake’s husband, Larry Herdade, said his motivation for seeing the movie was freedom of expression.

“It’s frustrating that for so long, the Democrats were afraid to say anything because you’d be considered anti-American or somehow unpatriotic or unsupportive of the troops,” Herdade said.

Kevin Madden, spokesman for the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign, said the campaign is not focusing on the film or its impact. Madden said neither he nor other campaign staff intended to see the film and would not comment on any of its controversial content.

“We’re not in the business of doing movie reviews. If I want a good piece of fiction, I’ll go see Dodgeball,”‘ Madden said in reference to Ben Stiller’s new comedy film.

AP-ES-06-26-04 1501EDT