Looking for Eric
Encyclopedia
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."
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.
. It had its UK premiere on the 1 June in Lowry Outlet Mall in Salford Quays, attended by Eric Cantona, 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".
Songwriter and Manchester United fan Pete Boyle appears in the film as the songleader on the coach.
Fan (person)
A Fan, sometimes also called aficionado or supporter, is a person with a liking and enthusiasm for something, such as a band or a sports team. Fans of a particular thing or person constitute its fanbase or fandom...
. It was written by screen writer Paul Laverty
Paul Laverty
Paul Laverty is a Scottish lawyer and scriptwriter.-Birth and early career:Paul Laverty was born in Calcutta, India, to an Irish mother and Scottish father. He obtained a Philosophy degree at the Gregorian University in Rome...
and directed by English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
director Ken Loach
Ken Loach
Kenneth "Ken" Loach is a Palme D'Or winning English film and television director.He is known for his naturalistic, social realist directing style and for his socialist beliefs, which are evident in his film treatment of social issues such as homelessness , labour rights and child abuse at the...
. The film's cast includes former professional footballer Eric Cantona
Eric Cantona
Eric Daniel Pierre Cantona is a French actor and former French international footballer. He played for Auxerre, Martigues, Marseille, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Nîmes and Leeds United before ending his professional footballing career at Manchester United, where he won four Premier League titles in...
and former bassist
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
with The Fall, Steve Evets
Steve Evets
Steve Evets is an English actor and musician, who found fame in the leading role in the 2009 film Looking for Eric.-Personal life:...
.
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."
Plot
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 cannabisCannabis
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre , for seed and seed oils, for medicinal purposes, and as a...
stolen from his stepson, hallucinations bring forth his footballing hero, the famously philosophical Eric Cantona
Eric Cantona
Eric Daniel Pierre Cantona is a French actor and former French international footballer. He played for Auxerre, Martigues, Marseille, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Nîmes and Leeds United before ending his professional footballing career at Manchester United, where he won four Premier League titles in...
, 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.
Production
The film was shot on location in Greater Manchester by Ken Loach's company Sixteen Films.Release
The film competed in the main competition at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival2009 Cannes Film Festival
The 62nd annual Cannes Film Festival was held from May 13 to May 24, 2009. French actress Isabelle Huppert was the President of the Jury. It was announced on March 19, 2009, that Pixar's film Up would open the festival...
. It had its UK premiere on the 1 June in Lowry Outlet Mall in Salford Quays, attended by Eric Cantona, and was the gala presentation at the opening night of the Sydney Film Festival
Sydney Film Festival
The Sydney Film Festival is an annual film festival held in the Australian city of Sydney and is held over 12 days in June. The competitive film festival draws international and local attention, with films being showcased in several venues across the city centre and includes features,...
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
Melbourne International Film Festival
The Melbourne International Film Festival is an acclaimed annual film festival held over three weeks in Melbourne, Australia. It was founded in 1951, making it one of the oldest in the World....
, 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".
Cast
- Steve EvetsSteve EvetsSteve Evets is an English actor and musician, who found fame in the leading role in the 2009 film Looking for Eric.-Personal life:...
- Eric Bishop - Eric CantonaEric CantonaEric Daniel Pierre Cantona is a French actor and former French international footballer. He played for Auxerre, Martigues, Marseille, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Nîmes and Leeds United before ending his professional footballing career at Manchester United, where he won four Premier League titles in...
- Himself - Stephanie Bishop - Lily
- Gerard KearnsGerard KearnsGerard Kearns is an English actor. He has appeared in film and television. He played Ian Gallagher, one of the original characters in Channel 4's Shameless, for 6 years.- Career :...
- Ryan - Stefan Gumbs - Jess
- Lucy-Jo HudsonLucy-Jo HudsonLucy-Jo Hudson is a British actress, best known for playing the role of Katy Harris in the long-running soap opera, Coronation Street from 2002–05, and as Rosie Trevanion in the ITV drama Wild at Heart from 2006–09....
- Sam - Cole and Dylan Williams - Daisy
- Matthew McNultyMatthew McNultyMatthew McNulty is an English actor of film and television.-Film:*Geography of the Hapless Heart as Jamie*Messengers 2: The Scarecrow as Deputy Milton...
- Young Eric - Laura Ainsworth - Young Lily
- Max BeesleyMax BeesleyMaxton Gig Beesley Jr. , known simply as Max Beesley, is an English actor and musician.Beesley rose to fame for his role of Andy Simpson in Every Woman, Every Man from 1993 to 1998, and has since appeared in a variety of television shows including Bodies, Hotel Babylon, London Ink, Survivors and...
- Eric's Father - Kelly Bowland - Ryan's Girlfriend
- Julie Brown - Nurse
- John HenshawJohn HenshawJohn Henshaw is a British actor, best-known for his roles as Ken the landlord in Early Doors, Wilf Bradshaw in Born and Bred and PC Roy Bramwell in The Cops. He is often associated with playing "hard men"...
- Meatballs - Justin Moorhouse - Spleen
- Des Sharples - Jack
- Greg Cook - Monk
- Mick Ferry - Judge
- Smug RobertsSmug RobertsAndy Robert Wilkinson , better known by his stage name Smug Roberts, is an English stand up comedian and actor. Born in Harpurhey, Wilkinson attended North Manchester High for Boys before taking various jobs such as a relief pub landlord and the coach of a football team in Toronto...
- Smug - Johnny Travis - Travis
- Steve MarshSteve Marsh (comedian)Stephen "Steve" Marsh is a British actor and co-host of the CBeebies programme Big Cook, Little Cook and is also co-host of Space Hoppers. Marsh plays the part of the big cook, Ben. He and his Big Cook, Little Cook co-host Dan Wright form a comedy duo under the name of Electric Forecast...
- Zac - Cleveland CampbellCleveland CampbellCleveland Campbell is an English actor. His family is originally from Kingston, Jamaica. He is best known for his role in ITV's Emmerdale as Danny Daggert. He played the part from 2001 until 2006, starring in 116 episodes. He has also appeared in The Bill and Sunshine with Steve Coogan...
- Buzz - Ryan Pope - Fenner
- Kevin Hunt (Mancunian auteur) - Masked Eric
Songwriter and Manchester United fan Pete Boyle appears in the film as the songleader on the coach.