Coward
1916: the young Belgian soldier Pierre (Emmanuel Macchia) arrives at the front full of fighting spirit, determined to prove himself. Behind the lines, he meets Francis (Valentin Campagne), who tries to keep the troops’ morale high with improvised revues. As the war rages relentlessly, an attraction grows between the two that must remain quiet and unspoken. Together, they try – if only for a moment – to escape the reality of war.
Following Girl and Close, Lukas Dhont returns with his most international and mature film to date. He contrasts the horrors of the trenches with tenderness and intimacy, portrayed in a restrained yet exceptionally powerful manner. The delicate chemistry between Emmanuel Macchia and Valentin Campagne forms the beating heart of the film. Both actors were, quite rightly, jointly awarded the Best Actor prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
Coward opens Film Fest Gent 2026 and is Belgium’s entry for the Oscars. It is one of the standout Belgian film releases of the year.
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