French soccer legend Eric Cantona refuses to soften his image in “Cantona,” a new documentary from directors David Tryhorn and Ben Nicholas that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. The film revisits the highs and controversies that shaped Cantona’s reputation as one of soccer’s most magnetic and unpredictable figures.
Opening with a quote from Charles Baudelaire’s “Flowers of Evil”, “I am the wound and the knife/I am the blow and the cheek/I am the limbs and the wheel/Victim and executioner” the documentary leans heavily into Cantona’s long-standing myth as both artist and aggressor.
The film traces his rise from Marseille to his defining years at Manchester United, where he became a club icon before his infamous kung-fu-style attack on a fan led to an eight-month suspension. Cantona remains unapologetic about the incident, saying in the documentary, “I should have kicked him even harder, because he deserved it.”
The review also recalls the footballer’s notorious television response after the assault controversy, when he declared: “I piss on their asses.”
Alongside new interviews with Cantona, the documentary features appearances from former teammate David Beckham and legendary manager Alex Ferguson. Though the film offers little new insight into his career, Cantona’s charisma and larger-than-life presence continue to dominate the screen.
The documentary also briefly explores his acting career, including his memorable role in Looking for Eric, where he famously declared: “I am not a man, I am Cantona.”
Leave a Reply