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

3 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Steve Evets	...	Eric Bishop
Eric Cantona	...	Lui-même (Eric Cantona)
Stephanie Bishop	...	Lily
Gerard Kearns	...	Ryan
Stefan Gumbs	...	Jess (as Stephan Gumbs)
Lucy-Jo Hudson	...	Sam
Cole Williams	...	Daisy
Dylan Williams	...	Daisy
Matthew McNulty	...	Young Eric
Laura Ainsworth	...	Young Lily
Max Beesley Snr	...	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 | poster | manchester | gun | 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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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Diaphana [France] Icon Film Distribution [UK]

Country:

UK France Italy Belgium Spain

Language:

English French

Release Date:

27 May 2009 (France)

Also Known As:

À Procura de Eric

Filming Locations:

Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£366,242 (United Kingdom), 12 June 2009, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,743, 16 May 2010, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$55,804, 27 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

When Spleen asked who's scored after he left the bar, the television on the bar showed Paul Scholes who scored the only goal in that game. It was a real game between Manchester United and Barcelona, the second leg of the champion's league semi final in 2008. Scholes's goal was the only one of either leg and sent United through to the final, where they defeated Chelsea 6-5 on penalties to win the competition.

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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

Eric: I am not a man... I am Cantona.

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Crazy Credits

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

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Cannes Film Festival 2009 (2009)

User Reviews

Never knew what hit me

I went to see this film as a colleague said it was good. I pretty much had no other idea what it was when I entered the theater.

The story is well narrated, put together in the "show not tell" method. You figure it out as you go along.

I found it fascinating on many levels. The character that Cantona plays adds depth and sparkle to the beginning of the story, when it all seems so lack luster. Seeing all the different stories coming together and seeing Eric pull himself together makes for a phenomenal story. At no point was I bored or did I lose interest in the movie.

It was only afterward that I found out who Cantona is and that he was even played by himself. The film completely worked even without knowing this beforehand.

Enjoyable, heartwarming and fascinating - I'll definitely be recommending this to friends.