Cannes 2026: Lukas Dhont’s ‘Coward’ is a Riveting WWI Love Story
by Alex Billington Might 21, 2026
“Love not conflict.” Who’re the actual cowards of conflict? Is it the troopers? Is it the lads who get too scared to battle and run away as a result of they wish to reside? Or is it the generals and the captains and all of the warlords dictating orders from a secure distance? Or is it the politicians sending their residents to demise? It does not matter who’s labeled a “coward” and why – these troopers do not need to go off to conflict and die. They need to reside. And we should always all the time be combating for love not conflict – regardless of the scenario, regardless of the battle being fought. I’m happy to report that the brand new movie made by Belgian director Lukas Dhont is sensational. Coward is his third function movie to date and it is magnificent, exhibiting us how love issues greater than the rest on this planet. The movie is Dhont’s most bold creation but, taking us into the trenches of World Conflict I to inform a young, heartfelt love story between two Belgian troopers. One other enchanting movie by Dhont that includes all of his earmarks – beautiful cinematography, an exquisite rating, and such majestic performances from your complete forged. Homosexual cinema reigns! I fell for this movie and acquired swept away by its 2 hour journey into hell & again.
Coward is directed by award-winning Belgian filmmaker Lukas Dhont, who virtually received the Palme d’Or again in 2022 along with his final movie Shut. The screenplay for this one is written by Lukas Dhont & Angelo Tijssens. It is set in 1916, throughout The Nice Conflict in Europe, following a gaggle of troopers who arrive on the Belgian entrance. The digicam spends its time centered on the face of the younger Pierre, starring Emmanuel Macchia. As now we have seen in different nice conflict films like 1917 and All Quiet on the Western Entrance, the boys arrive within the conflict amped up, able to battle for his or her nation, solely to be thrown proper into hell. Not solely the trenches, not solely all of the demise, however life as a soldier is depressing and disheartening. To maintain the spirits up, a brigade of troopers begins a theater revue and organizes a present for the opposite younger troopers on the entrance. The primary efficiency is mainly a drag present with the lads taking part in girls to tease the others for enjoyable. Their chief is the younger and flamboyant Francis, performed exquisitely by Valentin Campagne, who catches the attention of Pierre. Because the conflict wages on, the 2 start to construct a quiet connection that retains them alive and retains their hearts beating. It is a continuation of the “tenderness is the brand new punk” pattern at Cannes specializing in their so stunning love story.
Although Dhont’s Coward is yet one more World Conflict I movie repeating lots of the similar beats & scenes from many different World Conflict I classics, it nonetheless stands out in its personal distinctive methods. And I like spending time in Dhont’s movies, watching his characters work together, seeing their feelings on show. He’s a young filmmaker and this makes all of the distinction in what he places on display. Coward can be a lot greater and extra intense than something Dhont has made earlier than. He handles this story and this setting with grace & humility, pushing himself as a filmmaker to tackle this story and make it correct. Nevertheless, he additionally permits the fantastic thing about the romance to burn vibrant. There’s additionally the opposite facet of the movie which is the group of troopers who placed on the performances. Coward offers a transferring have a look at how artwork and expression and efficiency can deliver actually important pleasure & solace amidst the horrors of the occasions you are in. Entrancing to look at these scenes. It is offered so naturally, so organically with these troopers. Although this movie is about this particular expertise in WWI, I really feel the movie is a reminder that it doesn’t matter what terrible issues are occurring throughout us, we are able to discover such significant aid and such thrilling magnificence in inventive expression; in human beings entertaining others.
It is outstanding how comparable this movie is to Ira Sachs’ The Man I Love (additionally taking part in within the Principal Competitors at this yr’s Cannes Movie Pageant). Each movies are concerning the energy of artwork and efficiency when issues are dangerous. Coward can be related in lots of thematic methods to 2 different Cannes 2026 favorites: La Bola Negra (a monumental Spanish triptych of homosexual tales) and Flesh & Gasoline (one other tender homosexual love story). I proceed to imagine Lukas Dhont is a powerful filmmaker with an actual particular cinematic eye. It is particularly invigorating to note this connection between these 4 movies at Cannes, because it speaks to the actual energy of those tales and what they’re attempting to say: to deliver us again to the facility of affection and the way important it’s to our existence. Cinema is at its most stunning expressing that love. Valentin Campagne is totally transcendent on this movie, his efficiency right here is one for the ages. I felt a lot for him, I may sense each feeling inside him in each scene. Most touching of all is watching the 2 of them construct their love throughout the conflict and throughout time – reconnecting in a finale that may go away each individual watching this wiping away tears. Love love love.
Alex’s Cannes 2026 Score: 9 out of 10Comply with Alex on Twitter – @firstshowing / Or Letterboxd – @firstshowing
