This pointed attack on the Bush administration's actions regarding Sept. 11 has garnered first place at the Cannes Film Festival, spurred heavy criticism from the right (conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh called it "a pack of lies") and in its first weekend became the highest grossing documentary of all time, according to the July 12 issue of TIME magazine.

So what do Indianans think?

On its opening night Friday at the Indiana Theater on Philadelphia Street, both the 7 and 9:30 p.m. shows ended with audience applause. The clapping, however, doesn't necessarily mean moviegoers were happy after seeing Moore's cinematic entreaty to remove Bush from the White House.

Everyone reported liking the film, but movie watchers, many of them students and other members of academia, were either angered or saddened by what they saw.

They were incensed over the images Moore painted of the nation's political and business leaders lining their pockets thanks to the Iraq war.

"I have not felt this angry toward an administration ever," said Indiana's Eric Blank. "I wanted Clinton yanked from office, but I think Bush should go to jail."

Others were heavy-hearted after seeing footage of mothers - from both Iraq and the United States - weeping over the loss of family members who died in the war.

Projectionist Brent Stiver said he saw one woman leave the theater on the verge of tears.

At the very least, it gave Indiana residents something to talk about. Crowds gathered on the sidewalk outside the theater after the 7 p.m. show to discuss Moore's polemics and stayed for more than a half-hour.

"I've never seen people stand outside for a half-hour/45 minutes after a movie to discuss it," said Larry Fabian of Indiana.

Indoor discussion groups broke out at Four Sisters Bed and Breakfast in the 1500 block and the Habashi House of International Foods in the 500 block of Philadelphia Street.

Brooke Judkins of Indiana saw the film, which she thought was "brilliantly done," as more than an attack on Bush. It addressed the larger problem of people throughout history doing anything to maintain their elite status, she said.

Indeed, the documentary featured a scene in which Bush, dressed in a tuxedo, makes a banquet speech. He tells the unknown dinner guests, most likely campaign contributors, that "People call you the 'elite.' I call you 'my base.'"

Ann Miltz of Indiana viewed the documentary as a sign to pray harder. The shots of soldiers fighting abroad while workers lose jobs at home flooded Miltz with memories from her past.

"I had an older brother in Korea," she said. "I still have that echo of the pain of not knowing where my brother was and knowing (the fighting) was all for naught. It's just like it was back then with high unemployment. Nothing's changed. ..."Peter Broad of Indiana, who has always considered himself a radical leftist, recognized the film's lack of objectivity.

"It was a work of art, not a recording of history," he said.

The filmmaker has called it his "opinion based on facts." He has even publicly considered offering a $10,000 reward to anyone who can find a factual error, according to TIME.

Will Davis, a graduate student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, was neither angry nor sad immediately following the early show.

"I'm numb," he said. "It was a lot to take in."

Retired IUP psychology professor Robert Rittle said he found it a shame the way young, poor kids are recruited (as shown in the film) into the armed forces.

"People who care about this should give kids a more balanced set of information," he said. "Maybe we can mobilize people across the country at recruitment places and give them more balanced information (before they sign up). We could have told them there were no WMDs, for example."

Leah Wilde, an IUP grad student, also spoke of taking action while attending the discussion group at the Habashi House.

"I think everyone had the same reaction (to the movie) - appalled," she said. "The point is to do something about it. Most people go home and turn on the TV."

And what does Wilde recommend?

Voting. In fact, Wilde is hosting a Move On voter registration party at her place at 1904 S. Sixth St. on Sunday at 4 p.m.

"Bring your cell phones. We're going to call people from all over the country who are on unregistered voters lists."

Ahmad Habashi opened his place of business after hours so "people could share what they were thinking" after seeing "Fahrenheit 9/11."

"We need to elect a president who doesn't put his people in harm's way," said Al-Habashi, a Kerry supporter.

Some political analysts are wondering whether Moore's documentary will have an impact on the 2004 presidential elections. For many of Indiana's "Fahrenheit 9/11" viewers, their minds were already made up.

Al-Habashi said he was opposed to the war from the very beginning.

"I really felt there was no real good reason to send kids to die for lies," he said.