Cantona: Cannes Documentary Reexamines the Football Icon

Directed by David Tryhorn and Ben Nicholas, the 1-hour-55-minute documentary *Cantona* opened as a special screening in Cannes’ official selection in May 2026. It chronicles French striker Eric Cantona’s rise at Manchester United, his 1995 “karate-kick” controversy, and his subsequent acting career.

Hollywood Reporter

Tryhorn and Nicholas limited interviewees to Cantona, Sir Alex Ferguson, David Beckham, Guy Roux and his parents, noting Cantona’s personality resisted an ensemble. The film opens with a Baudelaire line that casts him as “angel and devil,” and pairs classical pieces with 1990s-style electronic grooves.

Hollywood Reporter

Cantona, speaking in a church, calls his instincts “sublime” and his temper “unparalleled.” Ferguson is quoted as seeking a player “with some flare, a sparkle that lights up a stage.” Beckham, Roux and Cantona’s parents add anecdotes, while archive clips show the 1995 kick and his cameo in *Looking for Eric*.

Hollywood Reporter

Tryhorn and Nicholas call the film a “heritage” project, more artistic than earlier sports documentaries. Cantona describes it as “something special… a heritage for my family.” Cannes officials cite the selection as sport-cinema crossover, while Ferguson stresses Cantona’s “sparkle” as key to United’s revival.

Variety Magazine

*The Hollywood Reporter* and *The Guardian* call the film fan-service, noting a hagiographic tone and the marginalization of teammates like Ryan Giggs, Roy Keane, Lee Sharpe and Andy Cole. Critics also point to the limited interview pool, abrupt editing, and the omission of Nick Hancock’s comment on the 1995 incident.

Hollywood Reporter

Runtime 1 h 55 min; Cantona age 60 (born 24 May 1966); seven club changes before United (1983-1992); four league titles in five seasons; three Cannes 2026 films (two acting, one documentary).

Variety Magazine

The film suggests Cantona’s temper mirrors former Marseille owner Bernard Tapie, but provides no evidence. It also excludes Nick Hancock’s contemporary commentary on the 1995 kick, leaving a notable gap.

The Guardian

• “Not really,” Cantona answered when asked if the 1995 incident had changed him. — Eric Cantona, Former Manchester United striker

The Guardian

• “I thought it was appalling, I thought it was terrible, I thought it was tragic but most of all I thought it was very, very funny.” — Nick Hancock, Comedian

The Guardian

• “with some flare, a sparkle that lights up a stage,” — Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United manager

Hollywood Reporter

• “I think that everybody who wants to be the manager of a football team or company or even a father with kids should see the film, because Ferguson showed how you could deal with any kind of personality.” — Eric Cantona, Variety interview

Variety Magazine

By centering a singular, charismatic athlete, *Cantona* examines how sport icons shape cultural memory and how managers handle volatile personalities. Its mix of testimony, archive drama and artistic soundtrack provides a model for future documentaries seeking to balance mythic reverence with critical analysis.

Hollywood Reporter