Cantona on the couch: footballer explores ‘demons’ in raw new film

CANNES: French football legend Eric Cantona told AFP he’s been doing therapy since age 20 but still struggles with his “demons,” which he lays bare in a raw new documentary about his life.
One of the beautiful game’s most colorful characters agreed to open up about his famously explosive and fragile ego in “Cantona” which is one of two soccer documentaries premiering at the Cannes Film Festival this week.
The 115-minute film by British directors David Tryhorn and Ben Nicholas features extensive interviews with the footballer-turned-actor in what sometimes resembles an extended session of psychoanalysis.
Insight from former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson and one-time teammate David Beckham, as well as a gripping soundtrack from one half of 1990s dance music legends Orbital, make it a compelling watch.
“I’m constantly trying to figure out who I am, and that’s why I do my best to act on instinct as much as possible,” Cantona told AFP on Saturday.
“Of course, there are times when things get a bit out of hand, but that’s part of life and I accept it.”
Has therapy helped?
“I’ve done a lot ... I started at 20 and I’ve continued at different moments.