Port Fairy Film Society wraps up its 2009 program this Friday with Ken Loach’s joyous, good natured, if painful romantic comedy Looking for Eric, about a Manchester postman and football fan Eric, his first wife Lily, his mentor Eric Cantona and his family.
Eric (Steve Evets) is depressed. On returning home after a car accident, his second wife leaves him with her two out of control teenage sons. When he takes his granddaughter to see Lily (Stephanie Bishop), she won’t speak to him, but he realises he still loves her, twenty years after leaving her. At the same time his family goes seriously astray.
While his friends seek to help him, Eric Cantona, the brilliant but flawed soccer star, becomes his confidant. Cantona’s philosophizing is a joke at the core of the film. Little Eric learns that he has to think positive and take risks to have a chance in life.
"If they are faster than you, don't try and outrun them," Big Eric says, getting into his aphoristic stride. "If they are taller, don't outjump them. If they are stronger on the left, you go right. But not always. Remember, to surprise them, you've got to surprise yourself first."
Cantona tells the postman you must always trust your team-mates, something he grows to appreciate through the film. We get a deeply enjoyable montage of Cantona goals, but when a saucer-eyed Eric asks the great man what was his best moment, Cantona replies that it was not a goal, but a pass: an inspired assist to Ryan Giggs. From this, Cantona's pupil begins to learn the selfless values of friendship and community, and finds the road back to happiness.
"When Big Eric plays the trumpet, he's all fingers and thumbs," Paul Laverty says. "I suppose what I wanted to show is him struggling through life like everybody else. It's implicit in the relationship between the two Erics - they're just two flawed human beings in this adventure of life."
Ken Loach skilfully directs Paul Laverty’s script with strong acting performances by Evets, Cantona, Bishop and John Henshaw, as Eric’s mate Meatballs. Loach leavened his pure social realist approach with timely positive humour for an enjoyable film.
“A life affirming film whose gritty exterior hides an undercoat of silky humour and an unexpected soft heart, Looking for Eric marries harsh reality with a sprinkling of fantasy in the down to earth way at which Ken Loach excels.” Louise Keller, Urban Cinefile. “Four Stars” Margaret Pomeranz, ABC.
Damien's dad loved it and thought it a great balance of humour, joy and Loach.
Looking for Eric screens this Friday 11th December at 7.30pm at Reardon Theatre in Bank Street. Memberships available at the door. We will have some wine, cheese and nibbles with free tea and coffee after the film to celebrate the year.
Best wishes to Christmas and a Happy 2010, look forward to seeing you next year at our Summer Movies and beside our Film Society urn.
