The Heart Is a Muscle (film)

The Heart Is a Muscle
Promotional release poster
Directed byImran Hamdulay
Screenplay byImran Hamdulay
Produced by
  • Imran Hamdulay
  • Brett Michael Innes
  • Khosie Dali
Starring
CinematographyKabeer Shaik
Edited byPaul Speirs
Music byTapiwa Musvosvi
Production
company
The Star Film Company
Distributed byIndigenous Film Distribution
Release date
Running time
89 minutes
Countries
  • South Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
Languages

The Heart Is a Muscle is a 2025 South African crime thriller film written, co-produced and directed by Imran Hamdulay, in his directorial debut. It follows a young father's search for a better version of himself, and of masculinity, trans-generational trauma and healing.

The film had its world premiere at the Panorama section of the 74th Berlin International Film Festival on 17 February 2024, where it won the Ecumenical Jury Prize. It was selected as the South African entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.