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Coward

Name: Coward
Director: David Roddham
Released: 2012
Duration: 28 min

Representation Score

5.7/10

Fair

2012

Director

David Roddham

Runtime

28 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Coward stands out as a psychological critique of wartime institutions. By focusing on the 'invisible' disability of shell-shock, it avoids the romanticized, traditionalist depictions of World War I. While offering a nuanced look at mental health and systemic failures, the film lacks depth in representing diverse identities. Its strength lies in subverting heroic wartime archetypes through the lens of trauma.

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Category Breakdown

Does Coward have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film centers on the bond between cousins Andrew and James. There is no depiction of non-traditional gender identities or same-sex relationships.

How does Coward portray gender?

Fair

Set within a male-dominated British Army, the story explores psychological fragility. However, there is limited portrayal of women's roles and challenges to traditional gender hierarchies.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Coward?

Limited

The cast appears relatively uniform, reflecting the Northern Irish origins of the soldiers. The film mirrors the demographic reality of the early 20th-century military.

How does Coward represent religion and culture?

Good

The narrative challenges traditional patriotic clichés by criticizing military institutions. It portrays the response to mental trauma as a systemic failure rather than an issue of individual discipline.

Does Coward include disability representation?

Good

The film excels in depicting the lived experience of shell-shock. It highlights the ability to act of characters dealing with psychological trauma and neurodivergence.

Present on Screen

Highlights the lived experience of psychological trauma and shell-shock.
Challenges traditional heroic wartime clichés through psychological realism.
Critiques systemic military failures related to mental health.

Limited or Absent

Lacks representation of non-traditional gender identities or LGBTQ+ characters.
Features a male-dominated environment with limited female roles.
Reflects a relatively homogeneous racial and ethnic cast.

Official Synopsis

Coward is a 28 minute film set during World War 1 that brings to light some of the brutal treatment soldiers received for suffering what would now be known as shell-shock. It follows two cousins, Andrew and James, from their home in Northern Ireland who join the British Army to fight for their Country and make their families proud. Through their eyes we see the reality of life on the front lines.

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