Review of Looking for Eric (2009) by Arianeta L — 26 Nov 2009

Looking for Eric is a 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 . The film competed in the main competition at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival. Eric Cantona stars as the imaginary mentor of a Manchester postman who suffers panic attacks and can?t cope with his two mouthy stepsons. It?s a playful but never gimmicky set-up that turns hero worship on its head, as the cool-headed Cantona appears in the life of scruffy Eric Bishop to tell him in that familiar sagely mumble to pull himself together and reconnect with his pals. Cantona takes him for a jog, shares Bishop?s spliffs and shows off his own, limited, trumpeting skills. The pair swap tips on how to cope with the dark times and reminisce over Cantona?s goals, cueing several stirring montages of balls hitting the back of the net. Eric might tire a little of the Frenchman?s gnomic advice , but an amusing, touching friendship emerges that slowly nudges a suicidal man back towards the solidarity of the workplace and the terraces. But there are two, relationships at the heart of this film . One imagined of Eric Bishop with Cantona and the other real of Eric Bishop and his ex-wife Lily (Stephanie Bishop), a woman he hasn?t seen for 20 years after their youthful marriage turned sour. They meet cautiously, initially for practical reasons as they share the childcare of their granddaughter, but later they begin to inquire into each other?s lives and try to work out what went wrong many years before. Their scenes together are the film?s highlights. Both Evets and Bishop are amazing and they give honest and warm performances.

Looking For Eric isn't really a film about football. Instead, it uses this beautiful game as a path to tell a beautiful story, about loyalty, trust, and friendship. At the end it leaves you a big smile on your face because of his emphasis on hope and love. And for fans of this game I think will like it and they will enjoy a football dream.