Cannes entry 'Coward' uncovers softer side of World War One, says director

A black-and-white photo of World War One soldiers posing in sandbag skirts and shell jewellery, in stark contrast to typical images of the conflict, provided the starting point for Cannes Film Festival entry "Coward," said Belgian director Lukas Dhont.

Dhont said growing up in Belgium, where cemeteries from the war are a constant reminder, gave him a strong personal connection to the period.

What struck him about the photograph, he said, was that he had never seen depictions of young men dressing up as women or performing on stage in war films, which tend to focus on the brutality.

"We have pushed those images to the front, and we have forgotten and made those images of softness and of expression rather invisible," he told Reuters ahead of the premiere on Thursday night.

"I found out that throughout many wars, not only the World War One in all the armies, men, while they were waiting to fight, they created these small performances for one another," he said.

Dhont said the idea that soldiers used performance and creativity as a form of resistance while waiting to fight was a key motivation for the film, along with his interest in exploring same-sex desire.

"These men live in a time where their love had to be unspoken, had to be incredibly silent," Dhont said.

"But weirdly enough, the war at that time brought them together."

FRONTLINE ROMANCE

"Coward" is Dhont's second feature to compete for the festival's top prize after "Close" in 2022, which was later nominated for the Oscar best international feature film.

His directorial debut, "Girl," won the Camera d'Or best first feature prize at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.

Newcomer Emmanuel Macchia stars as Pierre, a farmer's son who is sent to the front to help clean up dead bodies, retrieve the wounded and haul shells. He unexpectedly finds solace - a burgeoning romance - at the camp's makeshift theatre run by Francis, played by Valentin Campagne.

Critics were broadly favourable, with entertainment outlet Deadline pointing to Macchia as "a fresh talent" who understands that "great screen acting is in the eyes."

Dhont said he visited agricultural schools in Belgium to cast the role of Pierre, recalling his first meeting with Macchia.

"He was so soft speaking and so tender, and he just moved me," said Dhont. "He just carries this film, with so much maturity also."

"Coward" is among 22 films competing for the festival's top prize, which will be awarded at Saturday's closing ceremony.

-Hanna Rantala and Miranda Murray/Reuters