| Looking for Eric cantona | |
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Theatrical poster |
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| Directed by | Ken Loach |
| Produced by | Rebecca O'Brien |
| Written by | Paul Laverty |
| Screenplay by | Paul Laverty |
| Starring | Eric Cantona Steve Evets Lucy-Jo Hudson Matthew McNulty Gerard Kearns Stephanie Bishop John Henshaw Stefan Gumbs |
| Music by | George Fenton |
| Cinematography | Barry Ackroyd |
| Editing by | Jonathan Morris |
| Running time | 116 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom France Belgium Italy Spain |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £4m |
| Box office | $11,546,932[1] |
Looking for Eric is a 2009 French/Belgium/British film about the escape from the trials of modern life that football and its heroes can bring for its fans. It was written by screen writer Paul Laverty and directed by English director Ken Loach. The film's cast includes former professional footballer Eric Cantona and former bassist with The Fall, Steve Evets.
Director Ken Loach said of the film, "We wanted to deflate the idea of celebrities as more than human. And we wanted to make a film that was enjoying the idea of what you and I would call solidarity, but what others would call support for your friends really, and the old idea that we are stronger as a team than we are as individuals." [2]
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Eric Bishop is a football fanatic postman whose life is descending into crisis. Looking after his granddaughter is bringing him into contact with his ex-wife, Lily, whom he abandoned after the birth of their daughter. At the same time, his stepson Ryan is hiding a gun under the floorboards of his bedroom for a violent drugs baron. At his lowest moments Bishop considers suicide. But after a short meditation session with fellow postmen in his living room, and smoking cannabis stolen from his stepson, hallucinations bring forth his footballing hero, the famously philosophical Eric Cantona, who gives him advice. His relationship with Lily improves dramatically. Bishop finds the gun and confronts his stepson. Ryan admits to his involvement with the drugs gang, and Bishop attempts to return the gun to the gangster. He is forced to keep it himself, however, when a Rottweiler is set on him in his car. The gangster then posts footage on YouTube of Bishop's humiliation. The entire family is then arrested by the police on a tip-off but they fail to find the gun. Eric Cantona then advises Bishop to seek help from his friends and to 'surprise' himself. Bishop organises 'Operation Cantona', sneaking dozens of fellow Manchester United fans - wearing Cantona masks - into the gangster's house and humiliating him and his family, threatening to put the video of their operation onto YouTube, in turn. The movie ends at Bishop's daughter's graduation day, where the family re-unites in peace.
The film was shot on location in Greater Manchester[3] by Ken Loach's company Sixteen Films.
The film competed in the main competition at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival.[4] It had its UK premiere on the 1 June in Lowry Outlet Mall in Salford Quays, attended by Eric Cantona,[5] and was the gala presentation at the opening night of the Sydney Film Festival on 3 June. The film was released in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 12 June. The film was supposed to screen at the Melbourne International Film Festival, but five days before opening night Loach withdrew his film citing a "campaign to target events that are in receipt of financial support from the State of Israel".[6]
Songwriter and Manchester United fan Pete Boyle appears in the film as the songleader on the coach.
The book for Looking For Eric[7] is published by Route Publishing, it features the full screenplay, including extra scenes, colour photographs from the film and on set, plus introductions from Paul Laverty, Ken Loach, Eric Cantona and production notes from the cast and crew.
As of December 2011, the film has a rating of 85% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[8]
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