Rotten Tomatoes
Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Coward

Play trailer Poster for Coward Drama History War Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
93% Tomatometer 28 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Verified Ratings
As the First World War drags on, Pierre, a soldier newly arrived at the front, is eager to prove himself. Behind the lines, he meets Francis, who decides to lift the spirits of his comrades by putting together a theatre show. While the violence continues, both men try to find ways to escape the brutality of war, even if only for a moment.

Cast & Crew

View All

Lukas Dhont

Director

Emmanuel Macchia

Pierre

Valentin Campagne

Francis

Lukas Dhont

Screenwriter

Angelo Tijssens

Screenwriter

Michiel Dhont

Producer

Critics Reviews

View More
Philip De Semlyen Time Out May 28
3/5
With LGBTQ+ stories so rare in the filmography of World War I, it’s a rare and welcome perspective -- as well as another showcase for a gifted young filmmaker. Go to Full Review Justin Chang The New Yorker May 28
Dhont expertly handles the tension between the homosocial and the homoerotic, and if his honey-toned visual style sometimes leans toward fussiness, it’s counterbalanced by the brutality of the combat sequences. Go to Full Review David Rooney The Hollywood Reporter May 26
What really sinks Coward is the self-conscious grandiosity with which the director strains for lofty emotional peaks in moments that instead come off as hollow and artificial. Go to Full Review Marcelo Paredes Cinencuentro Aug 25
Even when the ending feels somewhat clichéd...it manages to complete the emotional journey of its characters and maintain coherence with the themes it has explored regarding the impossibility of fully living out one's desires. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Mauricio Jarufe Caballero Cinencuentro Aug 20
...Dhont emphasizes the power of male brotherhood and the resilience of the body in a much more striking and delicate way, without excessive exposition or insistence. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review James Mottram Radio Times Jul 31
4/5
It's a well-calibrated drama that never leans on hysterics for its powerful effect. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
View All

Coward

View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis As the First World War drags on, Pierre, a soldier newly arrived at the front, is eager to prove himself. Behind the lines, he meets Francis, who decides to lift the spirits of his comrades by putting together a theatre show. While the violence continues, both men try to find ways to escape the brutality of war, even if only for a moment.
Director
Lukas Dhont
Producer
Michiel Dhont, Juliette Schrameck
Screenwriter
Lukas Dhont, Angelo Tijssens
Distributor
MUBI
Production Co
The Reunion, Lumen, Topkapi Films, Versus Production
Genre
Drama, History, War
Original Language
French
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 25, 2026, Limited
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings