From KCRW in Santa Monica, this is The Treatment.

Welcome to The Treatment.

I'm Elvis Mitchell.

You can also hear this show at KCRW.com.

My guest director Ken Loach has a talent, I think, an affinity for

dealing with family in a way that no other director really does. His newest film as director

is looking for Eric. Ken, first of all, thanks for coming back to the show. Good to talk to you again.

Nice to speak to you too. If you can, for me and for the audience, let them know a little bit

of what looking for Eric is about.

Eric's bishop is a postman, middle age, who's really on the edge of a nervous breakdown.

The film is about how he got to the state he's in.

The love of his life collapsed through his own inability to take responsibility for really the relationship or family when he was very young. And it's been a downward spiral ever since with failed relationships

and two stepson that he's got landed with who aren't his but who are making his life a riot.

The one constant in his life is his love of football, Manchester United,

and in particular the great footballer Eric Cantona.

And I guess it's not giving too much a way to say that at the beginning,

when life is treating him really badly, he takes a spliff from his son's stash,

smokes it, and there Eric Cantona appears in his room to his befuddled eyes. And they start a

conversation. And it's partly the real Eric Cantor and partly the public's imagination of

Eric Cantona.

We should say to it, you're also a football fan as well, so don't put it all on Eric Bishop.

It's an interest of yours as well, right?

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