The story is about the special relationship that Cantona has with his fans and the film came about when Cantona contacted Loach with the idea to make the film. Eric is a middle aged postman whose one passion and interest is football. As his life becomes increasingly chaotic and Eric seeks to make sense of it he begins an imaginary interior dialogue with his hero Eric Cantona. The relationship gives Eric the self confidence he lacks and eventually ends in inspiring him together with his football fan friends to confront the local bad guys and triumph over them.
Cantona plays himself in the film but the device works effectively and Loach's usual straightforward story telling style work to great advantage.
Loach is a familiar face on the red carpet and he won the Palme d'Or in 2006 for his film The Wind that Shakes the Barley. Asked why he had chosen to make a film about the Manchester football star which is a considerable departure from his usual subject matter Loach said the it was a dream come true for him.
He described Cantona as a natural star. ""He's original and bright and sharp and perceptive. He thinks a little outside the game and his jousts with journalists were always funny and witty. When Eric walks in a room you really know he's there. It's true of very few people but he's a man with considerable charisma and a magnetism. Actors talk about natural projection, in that you can communicate from the stage to the back of the auditorium without apparently doing anything. Eric did that on a football field - he communicated to 70,000 people. That's an extraordinary natural ability."
It looks like Cantona has scored a goal for Loach in this one.
Credits
Ken LOACH - Director
Paul LAVERTY - Screenplay
Barry ACKROYD, B.S.C - Cinematography
Fergus CLEGG - Set Designer
George FENTON - Music
Jonathan MORRIS - Film Editor
Ray BECKETT - Sound
Actors
Stephanie BISHOP - Lily
Steve EVETS - Eric Bishop
John HENSHAW - Meatballs
Lucy-Jo HUDSON - Sam
Justin MOORHOUSE - Spleen
