Looking For Eric: Review

The nice thing about the Summer season of cinema is that every so often it throws up a little gem that no one is expecting. Looking For Eric has to be this year's gem, and what is more surprising is that it comes from one of this countries bleakest directors, Ken Loach.

The plot follows a depressed postman who lives with his step sons from his second marriage, in a house full of stolen goods, and who pines for his first love. After a bizarre self help session with his friends, and a joint or two, he starts getting advice from his idol, former Manchester United football star Eric Cantona, on the ways to get his life back on track, and to rekindle his love with the woman he let slip away.

Not the most original of plot lines, but that doesn't matter, when the film is so life-affirming and uplifting as this. Steve Evets, as the down-trodden Eric, is magnificent. You feel his every pain, his every emotion. I don't think you will find such an impressive performance from anyone this year. You are with him every step of the way, and that is all due to his incredible acting abilities. Eric Cantona is terrific too. Even if the accent is so heavy you miss the occasional word, he is both funny and likeable in equal measures, and is totally self-mocking.

The film, however, belongs to its director, Ken Loach, who manages to take you on the biggest roller coaster ride around. One moment, you are laughing (out loud), then you are biting your nails, then you are close to tears, then you are cheering and clapping. He manages to keep the bleak side of life that he is most famous for portraying in his films, and giving it the feeling of sunshine and joy. Even the tacked on sub-plot involving Eric's step-son and a local gangster doesn't feel tacked on, but enhances the rest of the movie.

Like Slumdog Millionaire, this is a feel-good film that does have a dark side, but behind the foul language (and there is a lot of it) and the doom and glum, is a film full of hope and wonderment, and a more delightful experience you will not have in the cinema this year. I am sure that when the year ends, this will definitely be in my top ten of the best films this years. I absolutely loved it.

(Oh, and don't worry...it's got very little to do with football).