Touching, poignant and heart-warmingly funny, Looking for Eric is a rare gem of a film that's already scored an away goal for British director Ken Loach at Cannes.
Looking for Eric
Cert: 15
Runtime: 115 mins
Rating: ****
And now, released alongside the compulsory summer blockbusters, this ultimately feel-good but gritty film is a welcome departure from all the razzle dazzle of CGI and the big st
udio cash cows.
It's the story of Eric Bishop (Steve Evets), a down-on-his-luck postie and die-hard Man United fan with all manner of problems on his plate; and who, after reaching breaking point, finds an unlikely source of comfort in his hero Eric Cantona, as famous for his cryptic philosophy as his footballing genius.
Struggling to keep it together, Eric receives some unexpected life coaching from the elusive Frenchman whose pearls of wisdom spur him on to confront his demons and begin a journey of 'rediscovery'.
With a cast made up of relative unknowns, the documentary-style feel and easy script has the effect of duping us into really believing in the characters; they're 'real', the kind of ordinary, every day folk any of us might bump into down the local pub.
Its raw edges and grimy settings also 'keep it real', and the camaraderie between Eric and his pals is infectious and utterly believable, creating some hilarious moments which juxtapose beautifully alongside the darker, more serious undertones of the plot.
When Eric enters his bedroom (a shrine to his beloved football team, with Cantona given pride of place) and shuts the door on the world, we share in the intimacy of his sanctity; this is his one place of refuge and we've been given behind the scenes access.
His surreal conversations with the enigmatic King Eric are touching and revealing and we take Eric to our hearts, because he represents Everyman and we're rooting for him from the start.
