THE HEART IS A MUSCLE
Special Features: 2026 Oscar® Selection, South Africa
Ryan is a loving father in his mid-30s. He and his wife, Laila, have their hands full on their son Jude’s fifth birthday: Ryan’s close friends and their families have come over for a barbecue. The children are excited, the adults are chatting animatedly, the place is filled with laughter. But this fun day is abruptly cut short when Jude suddenly goes missing. Panic spreads and a frantic search begins. When Ryan hears that Jude has been spotted in an area controlled by gangs, he drives to that neighbourhood and beats up a man who, it later transpires, has nothing to do with the disappearance. Despite best intentions, Ryan’s desperate search for his son has upset the delicate equilibrium among his group of friends, sparking arguments that will reveal deep secrets. With hip-hop influences, THE HEART IS A MUSCLE explores masculinity, transgenerational trauma and healing as it tells the story of a young father’s search for a better version of himself. (Note adapted from the Berlin International Film Festival.) DIR/SCR/PROD Imran Hamdulay; PROD Lesley-Ann Brandt, Khosie Dali, Brett Michael Innes. South Africa/Saudi Arabia, 2025, color, 86 min. In English and Afrikaans with English subtitles. NOT RATED
Run Time: 86 Minutes
Opening Date: Sunday, March 15, 2026
Genre: Thriller, drama
