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‘Coward’ movie review: An intimate and harrowing World War I drama
Lukas Dhont’s *Coward* is an intimate LGBTQ+ coming-of-age drama set during the First World War, following young soldiers whose adolescence is consumed by conflict. It centres on Pierre, a troubled recruit, and Francis, a more openly expressive fellow soldier, whose growing romantic bond offers hope and emotional freedom amid the brutality of military life.
The film contrasts battered camps, battlefields and army confinement with the soldiers’ theatrical performances, friendships and tentative intimacy. The review praises Dhont’s impressionistic visuals, restrained treatment of violence and the performances of Emmanuel Macchia and Valentin Campagne, who shared Cannes’ Best Actor prize, while acknowledging that its queer military and First World War themes are familiar.
In short
- A tender queer romance unfolds amid First World War brutality.
- Dhont balances battlefield horror with youthful joy and intimacy.
- Two debut leads earned Cannes’ joint Best Actor prize.
Explained simply
The First World War was fought from 1914 to 1918, drawing millions of men into armies across Europe and beyond. Young recruits faced strict military discipline, dangerous conditions and the threat of death, often far from home.
Lukas Dhont’s film follows two young soldiers, Pierre and Francis, as they form a romantic bond within that setting. Their story brings together growing up, same-sex intimacy and life in an army where personal freedom is limited.
The film also places performances and friendships alongside military confinement and the battlefield. Its subject connects to a wider history of LGBTQ+ people forming relationships in settings where openness could carry risks.
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