Attention Man United fans: you’ve got yourselves a movie. The new piece by Ken Loach centres around Eric Bishop, a depression-prone postman, who, being a football fanatic, seeks help for his remorse-ridden life from his greatest idol, Eric Cantona. As Eric struggles with his two rebellious step-sons and longs for his teenage love, Cantona’s undying aphorisms and highlight-reel goals build up his confidence. Not the strongest of stories, and at moments lost between genres, but with plenty of warmth and buddy humour the movie shows how a life can be turned around.

VMP
PREMIERE 13 NOV.

The issue of illegal immigrants in the USA has been tackled in countless movies, but few depictions have shed light on the perilous path people take to get there. American cinematographer-turned-director Cary Fukunaga’s feature debut is a harrowing story of immigrants making their way from Honduras through Mexico to the US. The road is fraught with dangers, police raids, brutal Mexican gangs and border guards. Sidestepping typical melodramatic landmines but still maintaining a compelling grip, the story leaves an ashen taste in your mouth. It’s beautiful in a grim, low-key way, and altogether an important film.