Les Braves (Coward), Lukas Dhont's new film, will hit cinemas in France on November 18, 2026. Presented in official competition at the Cannes Film Festival 2026, this 2h08 historical drama brings together Emmanuel Macchia and Valentin Campagne, who were jointly awarded the Best Actor Prize.
The story unfolds in 1916 on the Belgian front. Pierre has just joined the ranks, eager to prove himself. Behind the lines, Francis handles rations and stages performances to lift the soldiers’ spirits. As the fighting continues, the two men seek a way to momentarily escape the violence that surrounds them.
With this third feature, Lukas Dhont approaches World War I from behind the front lines rather than focusing solely on the fighting. The filmmaker was notably inspired by a photograph of soldiers dancing in costumes fashioned from sandbags and ammunition. These improvised performances become, in the film, a way to resist the roles thrust upon soldiers by the army and the brutality of the conflict.
Written by Lukas Dhont and Angelo Tijssens, already co-screenwriters on his previous films, Les Braves continues the director’s exploration of masculinity and the gaze of the group. Following Girl and Close, the historical setting allows him to interrogate these themes within an entirely male-dominated institution governed by obedience.
The film marks another milestone in the Cannes journey of the Belgian director. Girl won the Camera d’Or in 2018, followed by Close taking the Grand Prix in 2022. In 2026, Emmanuel Macchia and Valentin Campagne shared the Best Actor Award for their performances in Coward. The feature also picked up the Positif Cinema Award.
A co-production between Belgium, France and the Netherlands, Les Braves (Coward) is distributed in France by Diaphana. Cinematography by Frank van den Eeden, editing by Alain Dessauvage, and the original score by Valentin Hadjadj.
To plan your upcoming screenings, also consult our guide to the November cinema releases, the films to watch right now and our pick of the dramas to see in theaters.
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