Looking Forward To Eric
A very good piece in the Sunday Times today about ‘King Eric’ Cantona, soon to grace our screens in the new Ken Loach film Looking For Eric. I am yet to see the film but as a life long United fan (for my sins) and a fervent admirer of (almost) all things Loach, Looking For Eric has been building up in my mind’s eye to something approaching cinematic nirvana. Working in this industry you’d think I’d get used to managing my filmic expectations, and it is so very uncool to flaunt your excitement about so brazenly (we’re supposed to rise above any hysteria and maintain some all-knowing level of composure) but no, I regularly build things up, expect too much, and yes, more often then not, find myself disappointed by the results. But not always!
With Looking For Eric I feel certain I won’t be disappointed. Firstly, Ken Loach and writer Paul Laverty have a pretty solid track record. The last time they were in competition in Cannes – Looking For Eric is vying for the Palme d’Or this month – they won the top prize with The Wind That Shakes The Barley. Loach and Laverty have collaborated on some outstanding cinema including Carla’s Song, My Name Is Joe, Bread and Roses, Sweet Sixteen and It’s a Free World to name a few. The trailer also looks promising (although we all know you shouldn’t put too much stock in the trailer), but add to this the notion of Eric Cantona playing himself, the hot-blooded gallic poet with a pinch of self-depracation, and there is a lot to get excited about.
But just incase I’ve built this film up too much, Eric says it best:
You can lose in cinema too if you don’t put on a good performance.
When Icon, distributors of Looking For Eric, approached us to host a preview of the film followed by a Q&A with Loach and “King Eric” we practically bit their hand off. We persuaded them the event should be broadcast to cinemas across the country. The Ritzy in Brixton is the lucky host venue and we’ve had to remind our eager staff that they have to let our customers get a look in first before they snaffle up all the tickets. Details about the event can be found here, consider this a heads-up.
Watch the trailer for Looking For Eric
Looking For Eric opens on 12 June
