THE UNITED WAY
AVAILABLE NOW
DIGITAL/BLU-RAY/DVD
The United Way is the epic story of Manchester United Football Club, a city and a man who did more than most to bring success to both. As told by, co-written and featuring Eric Cantona.
He was an artist on and off the pitch and remains today a genuine superstar. The peerless French maverick is our guide from the dark days of Munich through to a historic treble in 1999. And all of the drama in between.
The film shares his unique insights into this iconic club with a fresh perspective on the “United Way”, taking audiences on a compelling ride through the history and evolution of the world’s biggest football club, and the social and cultural environment that shaped it.
Exclusive interviews and stunning archive interweave Eric’s story with that of the club.
We hear from a galaxy of United stars and stalwarts- such as David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Bryan Robson, Brian Kidd, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Teddy Sheringham, Nicky Butt, Peter Schmeichel, the late Tommy Docherty and many, many more- as well as era-defining figures from the realms of music and politics.
From humble beginnings in England’s Industrial North at the turn of the 20th Century, Manchester United rose with defiance and flair through the smog of tragedy, adversity and despair to become a cultural colossus.
The United Way is at heart a story of the people. It is set against a background of four dynamic decades of change on and off the pitch. Lords Heseltine and Kinnock add socio-political context. Musicians Peter Hook and Shaun Ryder recall the ground-breaking sounds and styles, which, along with the football club, helped make Manchester a pioneering, swashbuckling cultural capital.
Set to the stirring score of five-time Oscar nominated, BAFTA-winning composer George Fenton, this is a cinematic journey to discover the soul of a football club, of a city, of a people.
This is The United Way.
MAT HODGSON - DIRECTOR
Mat directed and produced his ambitious, documentary ‘I Am Durán’ (2019) – globally distributed by Universal Pictures – which tells the story of legendary boxer Roberto Durán who inspired the people of his native Panama to stand tall against the tyranny of dictator Manuel Noriega, and the US owned section of their nation. Winner of a Focal Award and shortlisted for a Grierson Award.
He also directed and produced the enormously successful and critically acclaimed feature documentary ‘The Four Year Plan’ (2011), broadcast on BBC/Netflix/Amazon Prime. The film, which gave remarkable sporting and financial insight into a high profile football club, scooped several awards globally, as well as being shortlisted for a Grierson Award.
Mat has also directed and produced ‘Night Of The Fight’ (ITV), in addition to producing ‘Sleeping Giant’ (BBC), 'Frampton: Return of the Jackal' (BBC1) ‘Fight Game’ (BBC1), ‘Once Were Lions’ (BBC) and ‘Brothers in the Sand’ (Amazon Prime).
DANIEL GLYNN - PRODUCER
Daniel is a filmmaker whose work in television, film and commercials has spanned over 21 years. A graduate of the Surrey Institute of Art and London Film School programme, he has produced several award-winning feature documentaries, television series and shorts for major broadcasters (Netflix, BBC, ITV, SKY, Discovery), with work officially selected for major international film festivals (Tribeca, LA Film Fest, AmDocs, Sheffield DocFest, IDFA) and by global distributors (Universal Pictures, Embankment Films, IMG, BBC Worldwide).
In 2011, he produced the critically acclaimed, Grierson Award shortlisted film, ‘The Four Year Plan’. In 2013, he directed the documentary 'Sleeping Giant: An Indian Football Story' and produced 'Night of the Fight: Hatton's Last Stand', a unique portrait of the events leading up to, during and after five-time world champion boxer Ricky Hatton’s final fight.
Recent credits include ‘I Am Durán’, the story of legendary boxer Roberto Durán featuring Robert De Niro, Sylvester Stallone, Mike Tyson and Manuel Noreiga; ‘Once Were Lions’ (BBC1); the three-part series ‘Fight Game’ (BBC1); 'Frampton: Return of the Jackal' (BBC1); ‘48 Hours with Muhammad Ali’; and 'The Verve: Bittersweet Memories'. Daniel co-founded UK production company Ad Hoc Films in 2005 and is currently developing a major new film based on the best-selling book ‘Run Hide Repeat’.
PATRICK NATHANSON - PRODUCER
Patrick Nathanson is an award-winning producer and writer. He has worked as a producer on feature documentaries including ‘I am Durán’ (Universal Pictures) and ‘Once Were Lions’ (BBC), as well as series producing ‘Fight Game: The McGuigans’ (BBC) and ‘Frampton: Return of the Jackal’ (BBC).
Fluent in Italian and Spanish and coming from a journalistic and radio documentary background (‘Ali at 70’, ‘A Bronx Tale: 100 Years of The Yankees’, ‘Avram’s Journey’, ‘The Tragedy of Robert Enke’, ‘Allen Stanford: Life Behind Bars'), he has worked for an array of global media organisations over the past 16 years, such as the BBC, The Financial Times, La Gazzetta dello Sport & Telegraph Media Group. He has worked with a range of high-profile interviewees and contributors, including President Clinton, Pelé, the Aga Khan, Johan Cruyff, Henry Kissinger and Martin Scorsese.
MATTHEW LORENZO - PRODUCER
Matthew Lorenzo is a journalist and broadcaster turned filmmaker. He has worked for the Guardian and the Times and Sunday Times and has presented a variety of programming for the BBC, Sky, ITV, GMTV and Channel Four.
He remains the youngest presenter ever to host a networked World Cup.
He produced the critically acclaimed feature documentary on English footballer Bobby Moore, ‘Bobby’, and was Executive Producer on ‘Bobby Robson – More Than A Manager’. He is currently in production on ‘The Beautiful Game’, a feature documentary charting the burgeoning popularity of women’s football around the world and telling the story of Rose Reilly, the only Scot to have won the World Cup.