Cannes 2009: Lars and Loach take to the red carpet

Two very different films were recently shown in short succession here at Cannes: Lars von Trier’s highly anticipated ‘horror’ film Antichrist and Ken Loach’s comedy effort Looking for Eric.  Von Trier, a regular at Cannes (he won the Palme D’Or in 2000 for Dancer in the Dark) had journalists literally clamouring over each other to see the film, only for them to tear it apart on their departure.  Made whilst the director was suffering from depression the film is about a couple (played by Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg) who make a trip to their remote cabin in the woods to recover from the grief of losing their young son.  The film explores feelings of paranoia and the relationship between sexuality, horror and nature.  In parts Von Trier creates an intriguing and effective atmosphere of unease however the most horrifying effect of the film (apparently unintentional on the part of the director) is the way that the horror and 'evil' explored in the narrative is routed not just in the female character but in women and female sexuality in general.  Von Trier has long been accused of putting his female characters through torturous circumstances but Antichrist seems to be his most glaringly misogynistic film yet.

Looking for Eric couldn’t be more different.  The Ken Loach-Paul Laverty partnership proves that the duo can turn their hand as easily to comedy as bleak drama.  Eric Bishop, a postman in his 50s, finds that life hasn’t turned out quite how he anticipated.  One evening he steals some of his son’s cannabis and is visited by his football idol Eric Cantona.  With Cantona’s wise words of advice Eric gradually starts to take charge of his life.  Laverty’s script is often hilarious and captures the charm of male friendshipr.  Whilst the climax may be a little far-fetched for some Looking for Eric is such an amiable film that audiences will happily go along for this enjoyable ride.  The humour was well received by the international audience in Cannes too.  It’s easy to forget how highly respected Loach is in Europe, more so than his home country, ironically considering how firmly routed his subject matter is in the everyday life of working class Britain.  Looking for Eric is released in the UK in June.