Looking For Eric is a curious specimen. Like many young men, I was initially drawn to the film by the presence of legendary French footballer Eric Cantona in the cast; the quintessential flawed sporting genius, a confident, powerful presence on the pitch and great player who nonetheless was a self-styled philosopher tormented with his own demons. Indeed, for all the
beauty of his play on the field, termed by the man himself 'gifts' to the Manchester United fans who adore him still, it is instead his 9 month ban for kicking a goading spectator that sticks in the mind of many to this day.
It is perhaps fitting of Cantona, then, that this film is initially enigmatic. Namesake postman and Manchester United fan Eric Bishop is introduced to us driving the wrong side of the road, in the midst of a mental breakdown, and we are unaware as to where his life is going, as is he. In his desperation, it's up to his friends and estranged family to aid him, helped of course by the hallucinatory presence and Francophone philosophisations of his idol Eric Cantona to aid him.
This film was fuck*ng great. Director Ken Loach and actor Steve Evet give Eric Bishop incredible intensity, and every scene hammers home the impression of a defeated man superbly; his subsequent attempt to mend the errors of his past to correct his future fits the character seamlessly and believably. Cantona gives an incredible turn as his mentor and confidant, and displays his usual imperious self; nevertheless, he brings a real compassion and quiet wisdom to the role that is present in all the great cinema mentors. His turn in the film, whilst relatively low-key, is very well implemented and he perfectly provides a human representation of the postman Eric's inner consciousness. Looking for Eric, indeed.
The humour of the film throughout is well done, rarely out-of-place but very British; think
Billy Elliot, which seamlessly blended humour with very real and serious issues in a gritty Northern fashion and you're not far off. The slightly farcical (in the best sense of the word) ending has divided some critics but I enjoyed it, feeling that it fitted the tone of the film and the progression of the character. Perhaps not the most subtle of film-making but nonetheless satisfying for it.
At heart, the film is a tribute to the power of solidarity and realising the basic ethical goodness of those around you, conducted in a manner which is beguiling and by turns dark, uplifting and humorous. Much like Cantona himself then,
Looking For Eric is a philosophical treatise trapped in a delightfully uncomplicated, skilful and confident body that you probably couldn't fail to love.
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Topic: wombat tries to watch movies again (Read 99773 times)