Audiences will have more empathy for Maradona after watching doc: Asif Kapadia

Asif Kapadia's latest doc 'Diego Maradona' follows the star from his childhood in impoverished rural Argentina, through his achievements on the pitch, to his scrapes with both the law and the mafia, and his well-documented struggles with addiction. Oscar-winning director hopes audiences will have more empathy for Maradona after watching the doc.

Cannes: Oscar-winning director Asif Kapadia says he wants to show a balanced version of Diego Maradona in his latest documentary.

"I want to just present the good and the bad and let the audience decide," he said, speaking at the recent Cannes Film Festival where 'Diego Maradona' premiered.

He added that, by showing the soccer legend's life from his childhood to present day, audiences can see "where he's come from and what he's been through and how he was treated on the way up."

'Diego Maradona' follows the star from his childhood in impoverished rural Argentina, through his achievements on the pitch, to his scrapes with both the law and the mafia, and his well-documented struggles with addiction.

The documentary features interviews with Maradona's longtime friends and colleagues, including his fitness coach Fernando Signorini, who can't believe they're both "still living."

"The thing is, sometimes when I think about this period I can't believe I am still living, and I can't believe he is still living because he has been through things that no human being can survive and he has always been able to get going," smiled Signorini.

He also added that he has maintained a friendship with Maradona throughout the player's highs and the lows.

"I feel grateful that I have shared this with him, especially in the moments that were difficult because when it is easy, the champions have plenty of friends, but you have to stick to them also when it is not easy," he said.

Kapadia said Maradona's life and personality were made for cinema screens.

"Absolutely that that idea that he deserves to be on a bigger screen in the world, you know, and to be seen by people and to be celebrated for the amazing things that he did, but also to kind of understand I hope why he's done some of the stuff he's done some of the mistakes that he's made and hopefully have a bit more empathy for him the next time we see him on a screen," he added.

'Diego Maradona', which follows Kapadia's previous documentaries 'Senna' and the Oscar-winning 'Amy', screened out of competition at the Cannes Film Festival. It is set to be released in the U.K. on June 14.

With inputs from APTN