RUMFORD — Light laughter rippled through the audience when one of their own appeared on the big screen, looking into the camera. The man was just another unidentified Mountain Valley High fan, arriving at the Cape Elizabeth football field for the night's big game.

"We came with our shotguns and our whiskey bottles."

It was just one line in "The Rivals," an unflinching, 90-minute look at the relationship between two very different Maine communities and their high school football teams, but one line that helped carry the film's themes. "The Rivals" is about stereotypes, conflicts and ultimately, respect. You must tackle the first two before reaching the third.

"The Rivals" made its debut six weeks ago at the Maine Film Festival in Waterville. Friday night, a crowd estimated at between 600 and 700 nearly filled Mountain Valley High's Muskie Auditorium, turning a warm evening even warmer. There was no head count because no tickets were sold.

Ten-dollar bills and a few twenties and singles filled a donation can at the door. That money and more raised by raffle ticket and 50-50 sales went to the Garneau family. Danny Garneau, a football player, has leukemia. He was not in the audience, but was undergoing a round of treatment in Portland.

There were apprehensions when filmmaker Kirk Wolfinger first showed up with his cameras in 2006. He lives in Cape Elizabeth. That his son plays football gave him some common ground. He still was the outsider and people in this corner of Maine wondered if he'd get them wrong.

A trailer, released to create buzz about the film, didn't help. The depiction of hard-talking papermakers who centered hard lives on their football team contrasted sharply with the coastal elite and their comparative wealth. Eyebrows and tempers were raised.

"That kind of incensed some people," said Phil Mills of Rumford, who has children who are graduates or still in the school system. "What do you mean this is who we are? (After watching the film) I thought it was a great representation of both towns."

Richard Duka of Hanover was "very pleased." Brian Cogley, a center on the 2007 team that is the foundation of the film, said he "got goosebumps. It's a reminder of the legacy I've left behind." Cogley is a student at the University of Maine but no longer a football player.

Phil McCrillis of Rumford had no issues. Both he and his son, Dean, a former tight end majoring in art at the University of Southern Maine, are seen repeatedly in the film. Phil makes the meatballs and sauce no can resist at the pregame pasta dinners. His son may be gone, but the big pot still simmers overnight on his stove.

"I thought it was a great show of Americana. What was shown in the film is how it is up here. We're not hiding from that. But this is a beautiful place with wonderful people who care about each other. You saw that, too.

"Coach (Jim) Aylward has passion for the kids. That's why he's been so successful."

Mountain Valley has won three state championships in five seasons. It is the football program Cape Elizabeth aspires to be. Or as Cape Coach Aaron Filieo said in a poignant moment: "I hope to be a colleague, not a young, punk football coach."

Aylward, 47, grew up in Rumford and went no further than the University of Maine at Farmington. He teaches English at Mountain Valley and refuses to turn away from the reality of life in his hometown.

"I hate seeing these kids lose," said Aylward in the film, after Cape Elizabeth beat his team for the first time in the Campbell Conference final. "They don't have much else. They really don't."

That loss to Cape Elizabeth set up a postgame confrontation. In their joy over beating Mountain Valley, Cape players did not line up for the customary handshake while Aylward's players waited. Fileo's explanation and apology did little to mollify Aylward at the time.

The audience was quiet as it...