Former Manchester United midfielder Eric Cantona has refuted claims he starred in a soft porn film , insisting You and the Night is a 'piece of art ' . The French film has a number of racy scenes , and at one point sees Cantona on his hands and knees in just his underwear . But the 48-year-old is adamant it is not pornography . Speaking at the Laureus Sports Awards in Shanghai , Cantona said : 'Porn ? No , it 's not porn . It 's a piece of art . It 's just a piece of art . But you can see it like this . Eric Cantona was speaking to the media at the Shanghai Grand Theatre prior to the Laureus Sports Awards . You and the Night includes a scene in a cage , with Cantona alongside Beatrice Dalle in just his underwear . 'It 's beautiful . You should see it . Unfortunately , porn is not so aesthetic and so beautiful . But love is sex also , you know ? 'This kind of story for the ones who have seen it - I 'm sure nobody has seen it - it 's too beautiful . 'This kind of story , when you choose to do it , you have to know the director . If it 's somebody special , if it 's a real artist , you can do it . You can give , and be confident enough . ' Cantona has defended the film , saying it is ' a work of art ' and 'beautiful ' , and not a porn film as some have said . In one scene , Cantona is on his hands and knees in his pants while a woman with a whip stands over him . Cantona stars alongside French actress Beatrice Dalle , playing a character named 'The Stud ' , and the film has been both praised and slated in equal measure . While one called it a 'superb artistic orgy ' , another reviewer branded it ' a film that confuses the audience and falls in the gap between arthouse and trashy farce . '
Eric Cantona stars in a French film called 'You and the Night ' The film includes a scene with Cantona on all fours in just his pants . The former Manchester United midfielder says it is not a porn film . Cantona says of the film : 'It 's a piece of art ... it 's beautiful ' READ : Cantona whipped in film based around an orgy . Score: 6