Looking for Eric (2009)

Eric, a football fanatic postman whose life is descending into crisis, receives some life coaching from the famously philosophical Eric Cantona.

Director:

Ken Loach

Writer:

Paul Laverty (screenplay)

Stars:

Steve Evets, Eric Cantona, Stephanie Bishop

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Steve Evets	...	Eric Bishop
Eric Cantona	...	Himself
Stephanie Bishop	...	Lily
Gerard Kearns	...	Ryan
Stefan Gumbs	...	Jess
Lucy-Jo Hudson	...	Sam
Cole Williams	...	Daisy
Dylan Williams	...	Daisy
Matthew McNulty	...	Young Eric
Laura Ainsworth	...	Young Lily
Maxton G. Beesley	...	Eric's Father (as Maxton Beesley)
Kelly Bowland	...	Ryan's Girlfriend
Julie Brown	...	Nurse
John Henshaw	...	Meatballs
Justin Moorhouse	...	Spleen

Storyline

Eric Bishop, a middle-aged postman working for the Manchester sorting office, is going through a dreadful crisis. For starters, his second life companion has not resurfaced although she was released from prison a few months ago. He is left alone with two stepsons to look after, which is no bed of roses since the two teens disrespect him and keep disobeying him. To make matters worse, Ryan, the older boy, fascinated by Zac, a dangerous gangster, has accepted to hide his gun in Eric's house. On the other hand, he is asked by Sam, his student daughter who has a newborn baby,to get back in touch with Lily, his separated wife. Now, Eric left her not long after she gave back to their daughter. As a result Eric panics... Having lost all his bearings, Eric Bishop soliloquizes face to the poster of his idol, another Eric, French footballer Eric Cantona, when the latter appears just like the genie out of Aladdin's lamp. Through a series of aphorisms peculiar to him, the footballer-philosopher ...

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Plot Keywords:

postman | gun | manchester | poster | gangster | 

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Taglines:

To win back the love of his life, Eric's going to need a little training.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Sport

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Details

Official Sites:

Diaphana [fr] Icon Film Distribution [uk]

Country:

UK France Italy Belgium Spain

Language:

English French

Release Date:

27 May 2009 (France)

Also Known As:

Barátom, Eric

Filming Locations:

Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$6,743 (USA) (14 May 2010)

Gross:

$55,804 (USA) (25 June 2010)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sixteen Films, Film Four, Canto Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The short film I Dream of Zinedine Zidane directed by Tim Gee precedes Looking for Eric at elected theaters. It also deals with one man's obsession with a footballer.

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Goofs

On the bus going to the raid, the clock reports 12:12. Then, the camera goes on the passengers. When back on the bus clock, it reports 12:38.

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Quotes

Meatballs: One word on Ryan, and it's gonna be on BlueTube!
Jess: It's YouTube. It's called YouTube.
Meatballs: Well, whatever it is, you're gonna be on it!

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Crazy Credits

Cantona is credited as "Lui-même" (himself).

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Connections

Featured in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Kick-Ass/Death at a Funeral/The Joneses (2010)

User Reviews

Lots of Laughs

I found this film extremely good fun. The plot was a little surreal, but it held you. The acting was excellent and there were lots of laughs. Cantona acquits himself perfectly respectably. As usual with Ken Loach, there was a bleaker side to the fun and the realities of ordinary people's lives were not glossed over or "prettied up". As is also the case with Loach films, one had the sensation that this was not being "acted" by professional luvvies, but conveyed with sincerity. This must be extremely difficult to achieve and I am full of admiration for the skill involved. Manchester United fans and other football followers will enjoy some of the documentary footage. But this is not just a film for football enthusiasts. I thoroughly recommend it.