The Heart Is a Muscle

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.