Ken Loach and Eric Cantona hailed Cannes heroes

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Ken Loach and Eric Cantona, the new odd couple of British film, were hailed the heroes of Cannes today.

Acclaim: Cantona in Cannes today

Looking for Eric, a comedy from veteran director Ken Loach starring former Manchester United footballer Eric Cantona, was greeted with warm cheers at an early morning screening before tonight's premiere.

On a massive wave of publicity and goodwill, the film is now set for the biggest release of a Loach film in Britain since Kes 40 years ago.

Loach, 72, admitted he had thought “it would be nice to do a film with a smile on our faces” after a string of tough ones.

The result is the story of a postman down on his luck who turns to his footballing idol for emotional and practical support.

Loach hailed Cantona's performance as comparable to his on-pitch talent and said he was a serious actor. “He acts like he played football – with flair and creativity.”

In turn, Cantona's swift recitation of Loach classics indicated his own respect for the director's work.

Asked whether Loach bore comparison with his former manager, Alex Ferguson, Cantona insisted both were very “humble”.

“They are two people who really got me to give every bit of myself. These are two activities that are totally different but the way they go about getting 100 per cent from the team or the actors is very similar,” he said.

Cantona was typically reflective on the subject of playing himself in the feelgood film. “In life, one is spontaneous, one totally lives the person one is. This is fiction. It is a screenplay beautifully written by Paul Laverty,” he said.

Loach's film on football, a personal passion to rival his love of politics, looks set to reach audiences who have ignored his heavier fare until now.

Asked how that felt, he said: “If it's popular, that's great. In the end you have to be true to the subject matter, you just have to tell the story as truthfully as you can. But certainly the distributors have shown a lot of confidence in it.”

Rebecca O'Brien, his long-term producer, admitted securing a mainstream release felt like a vindication.

“When you make films you want them to be seen. You don't want them to be the biggest secret of all time. So it's an absolute thrill.”

Looking for Eric, which is a contender for the prestigious Palme d'Or at Cannes, opens in the UK on 12 June.

Before then, Cantona predicted Manchester United would win the Champions League.

Loach's next venture will be a return to more typical political fare. Route Irish will be set on the most dangerous stretch of road in Baghdad where a British mercenary soldier is killed under mysterious circumstances.

 

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