King Eric, does not fit the usual stereo type no brains footballer, he is full of philosophical gems, sometimes a little surreal for the everyday person, but inspirational, none the less.

Gravel voiced postman (Steve Evets) has more problems than most of us could cope with, including trying to bring up single- handedly two unruly teen age sons, who walk all over him, making his household anarchic. Added to this, he is haunted by a ghost from his past, his first wife, Lily (Stephanie Bishop) who he left, we find out, because he could not deal with he pressure of married life with a young baby. He is forced to face his ex by way of the fact that his grown up daughter , who is studying, requires his and Lily’s help to look after her baby daughter.

Eric the postman is ill-equipped to meet his ex-wife, who he still harbours a lot of regret and love for. Enter Eric Cantona, who Eric the postman begins to converse with, with the help of his imagination and by smoking joints, stolen from his teenage sons stash. Of course they talk of the good old days of Cantona’s career, but Eric Cantona becomes Eric the postman’s life coach, urging him to get back with his ex wife. Communication between the two is not always smooth, but in the way they have things in common, Eric Cantona, the flawed genius, also had his problems, during his career.

Eric the postman’s teen age son’s involvement with a local gangster, alters the course of events. Eric the postman is forced to call upon, his friends and colleagues. A farcical but very funny scene punctuates the film. Some of the performances in this Ken Loach film are masterful and most endearing, not least by the star of the film and his ex-wife. Even avid football haters, will warm to this film and surely to the character of ex-Manchester United football hero Eric Cantona. You can’t help leaving the cinema with a smile on your face, the film has a genuine feel good factor, but maybe you might think twice, before narking your postman.

Francis H. Powell is originally from England and moved to Paris in 1999. In addition to being a writer (articles, songs and poems), he is a painter, DJ and English trainer. For more information, read his complete bio.

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