Coward

Another delicate two-hander about young men finding each other and exploring their sexuality from the master of elegant storytelling, Lukas Dhont (Close).

This time a period piece set during the First World War, it follows the lives of two soldiers as they form a close bond while part of a theatre troupe entertaining their fellow comrades in the Belgian army. The stifling hierarchy and discipline of the army, homophobia and the horrors of war combine and pose the question, what is bravery and what is cowardice?

Starring Emmanuel Macchia and Valentin Campagne as the two romantic leads, they jointly won the Best Actor award for the film’s tender and self-controlled performances at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.