US theaters used to be an ideal place for people seeking refuge from the real world of dirty political finesse and mudslinging, especially in an election year.

Not anymore.

Led by the red-hot anti-war documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11," which has snapped a surprise success at the North American box office, a wave of political films is flooding the US theaters.

The huge success of "Fahrenheit 9/11," which accuses US President George W. Bush of launching the Iraq war without justification, has set a new record for any documentary by earning more than 100 million US dollars in the first month of release.

The film has not only increased people's interest in politics, but also smashed the image of theaters as a generally politics-shy fun place. Many said the silver screen has become a battleground as partisan as Democratic and Republican conventions.

If Democrat candidate John Kerry, who is running neck and neck with Bush in the presidential campaign, wins the election in November, he should be grateful to "Fahrenheit 9/11" for swinging some undecided voters to his side.

MORE POLITICAL FILMS TO COME

Following "Fahrenheit 9/11," another political movie named "The Manchurian Candidate," starring Oscar-winner Denzel Washington, debuted last weekend in North America.

A remake of a 1962 thriller, the film tells about how plotters try to capture the White House through brainwashing and assassination rather than by winning over hearts and minds in the traditional way.

The film draws natural comparison between the character of a vice-presidential candidate operated by an oil company and the incumbent US Vice-President Dick Cheney, who used to be head of oil services giant Halliburton Co. which was criticized by "Fahrenheit 9/11" as a major beneficiary of the Iraq war.

And there are more political movies to come. John Sayles's "Silver City," about a know-nothing candidate apparently modeled after Cheney, and a marionette political satire "Team America: World Police" are soon to be released.

The success of "Fahrenheit 9/11" also prompted movie theaters to book more political documentaries in hopes of luring customers.

Among other political documentaries that will soon be released included the "Control Room," which tells about al Jazeera, the famous Arabic satellite television network known for broadcasting al-Qaeda statements.

"Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism" is a documentary about the Fox news channel affiliated with media mogul Murdoch's News Corp. And "Bush's Brain" tells about presidential adviser Karl Rove and his role in Bush's election campaigns.

Meanwhile, Harry Thomason, a close friend of former US President Bill Clinton, will debut his film "The Hunting of the President" in an attempt to expose what he called a decade-long conspiracy to drive Clinton out of office.

Paul Colichman, president of Regent Entertainment, which is distributing the Clinton film, said it could be a success thanks to the increasing political interest aroused by "Fahrenheit 9/11."

Thomason said he made the movie because he thought people ought to know that Clinton was the victim of a concerted right-wing effort by the Republicans and conservatives.

Even though some people called the movie an old story, it is still relevant as "the same people lined up against Clinton are lined up against Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry," he added.

Source: Xinhua