Young Belgian soldier Pierre (played by Emmanuel Macchia in his acting debut) arrives at the front full of fighting spirit. Behind the lines, he meets Francis (Valentin Campagne), who stages improvised variety shows in an attempt to boost the troops’ morale.het front.
As the war rages relentlessly on, an attraction grows between the two men, one that must remain quiet and unspoken. Together, they try, if only for a moment, to escape the reality of war.
The vulnerable, compelling chemistry between Macchia and Campagne leaps off the screen, giving the film a tenderness you would hardly expect from a war movie. Both actors were deservedly awarded the Best Actor prize at Cannes.