'Coward' Review: Lukas Dhont's WWI Drama Explores Queer Repression Through Tender Soldier Romance
By
Ryan Lattanzio
Sesame, salt, and substance. A flagship bake.
Summary
Lukas Dhont's "Coward" is a visually arresting WWI drama about two Belgian soldiers who fall in love on the battlefield. The film explores the contradictory idea that the violence of war both enables and protects their queer attraction. Starring newcomers Valentin Campagne and Emmanuel Macchia, the film is described as a tender, sensuous study of gay repression, though thematically by-the-book.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledBelgian filmmaker wrestles the tenderness and softness between soldiers from the brutality of the battlefield in his visually arresting if thematically by-the-book third feature, 'Coward.'
Starring newcomers Valentin Campagne and Emmanuel Macchia as achingly beautiful soldiers of the Belgian front in World War I who fall in love
The violence of war is what both enables and protects their attraction, and allows them to be together at all.
You might also wanna read
Cannes 2026 Review: Ira Sachs' 'The Man I Love' Showcases Rami Malek's Most Captivating Performance
A review of Ira Sachs' film "The Man I Love" premiering at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, which features Rami Malek in a transformative perf
Decider·3d ago
'Jim Queen' Review: Raunchy Gay Animated Film Offers AIDS Allegory With Mixed Results
A review of the raunchy animated feature 'Jim Queen' by Nicolas Athané and Marco Nguyen, which presents an AIDS allegory where the transmiss
IndieWire·14d ago
'Viva Carmen' Review: Animated Adaptation Reimagines Bizet's Opera as a Vibrant Family Film
A review of the French animated feature 'Viva Carmen,' directed by Sébastien Laudenbach, which adapts Bizet's opera 'Carmen' as a children's
Variety·5h ago
Emma Corrin on 'Pride & Prejudice' Role, Nonbinary Identity, and Being Variety's First Nonbinary Cover Star
Emma Corrin, the nonbinary actor known for playing Princess Diana in "The Crown," discusses their career trajectory, including feeling daunt
Variety·10h ago
'Obsession' Review: Curry Barker's Horror Debut Delivers a Contemporary Monkey's Paw Tale
A review of Curry Barker's feature film debut 'Obsession,' a horror movie about a lonely man whose wish for a submissive partner turns into
l.euronews.com·2d ago
'Backrooms' Film Review: Kane Parsons Turns Creepypasta Into Existential Horror Cinema
Kane Parsons expands his eerie 'Backrooms' YouTube series into a feature-length film that captures the existential dread of endless, empty,
Rolling Stone·2d ago