Beautifully shot and with a powerful message, Coward narrates a story of love, bravery, and resistance against the backdrop of World War I.
Director: Lukas Dhont
Genre: War Drama, Romance
Run Time: 120′
Cannes Premiere: May 21, 2026 (In Competition)
Release Date: TBA
Coward opens on the Belgian front during World War I. From the opening, we learn that between 1914 and 1918, 65 million soldiers were called to the front, and shortly after, we are introduced to some of the young soldiers who have just been called to join the ranks of the Belgian army.
One of these recruits is Pierre (Emmanuel Macchia), who is soon drawn to Francis (Valentine Campagne), another soldier entrusted with keeping the army’s spirits alive by putting on shows and performances for their comrades.
The film is incredibly successful in showing how bleak and devastating war is. In a manner similar to 1917, the camerawork, lighting and mise-en-scene all work together to create some beautiful and terrifying images that never shy away from showing the pain and horror caused by the conflict. Yet, with this tragic and hopeless backdrop, Coward finds moments of hope and love even in the unlikeliest of circumstances. The love story between the two soldiers feels both hopeful and revolutionary in this context, and gives the film its heart.
The elements of theatre and live performance are particularly fascinating because there are documented cases of this happening in the First World War, which the director Lukas Dhont did extensive research about. It makes for a new and original story within the war film genre, which can often feel quite repetitive. The inclusion of these elements also speaks to how theatre at large can provide a safe and stimulating environment against the horrors of real life, even in such a miserable and terrifying reality.
More than a love story, the film is a strong anti-war statement. Just with its visuals alone, Coward does a really good job at calling out both historical and contemporary atrocities of war. While the title would initially seem to refer to deserters who refused to join the army, in reality, Dhont asks us a very bold question: are these people really cowards? Or is there bravery in the radical choice of turning your back on weapons and fighting all together?
The side characters in Coward are well-explored despite their relatively limited screen time, and are necessary to establish the overall atmosphere of life on the Belgian front. Unfortunately, it feels like the film forgets about them halfway through the movie to focus on the main couple. This is a shame because the overall ensemble was very compelling to watch in the scenes where we see them together. In the second half of the film, the storyline generally gets weaker as the two main characters only seem to exist within the context of their relationship rather than as individuals.
Overall, Coward is an incredibly well-made film with a bold and strong premise at its heart. It portrays the war in a new and original manner by focusing on the people who are not fighting in the trenches or across enemy lines but, instead, use other tools to counter the mystery and horror of war.
Coward (Cannes 2026): Movie Plot & Recap
Synopsis:
Pierre is serving at the Belgian front during World War I. Here, he meets Francis, who introduces him to a whole new world made of painting backdrops, live performance, and love.
Pros:
- The scenes portraying the war are very strong and powerful.
- The love story at the heart of the film is beautiful and tender.
- The film portrays a different side of the war, one that many will not be familiar with.
Cons:
- The two protagonists only exist in the context of their relationship rather than as individuals.
- The secondary characters, though well explored, disappear in the second half of the movie
Coward premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 2026.