The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) of South Africa has officially chosen Imran Hamdulay’s film, The Heart is a Muscle, as the nation’s entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards.
This poignant film explores the relationships between fathers and sons, delving into intergenerational healing and forgiveness themes. Set against South Africa’s Cape Flats backdrop, the narrative resonates with universal themes of reconciliation and a search for belonging. It follows a man grappling with inherited trauma and, through the gradual process of forgiveness, strives to become the father and husband he aspires to be.
The Heart is a Muscle, marking Hamdulay’s directorial debut, premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival earlier this year, where it earned the Ecumenical Jury Prize. The film has since been showcased at various international festivals, including the Sydney Film Festival, with the Cairo International Film Festival on the horizon.
Hamdulay expressed his gratitude, saying, “This film is deeply personal. It embodies a shared narrative that springs from the experiences and voices of the community, and we are incredibly excited to represent South Africa at this year’s Academy Awards.”
Historically, South Africa has made significant contributions in the International Feature category, with notable films such as Gavin Hood’s Oscar-winning Tsotsi (2005) and Darrel Roodt’s nominated Yesterday (2004). The Wound (2017) and Life, Above All (2010) have also been shortlisted.
Written and directed by Hamdulay, the film is produced by a talented team including Adam Thal (The Last Ranger), Khosie Dali (Sons of the Sea), Brett Michael Innes (Sink), and Lesley-Ann Brandt from Lucifer. The Heart is a Muscle received key funding from the NFVF, the Red Sea Fund, and South Africa’s Indigenous Film Distribution, with international rights managed by MMM Film Sales.
