South African Film 'The Heart is a Muscle' Earns Oscar Nod

In a significant achievement for South African cinema, the National Film and Video Foundation has selected Imran Hamdulay's "The Heart is a Muscle" as the country's official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards in 2025. The film, which premiered in the Panorama section of the Berlin International Film Festival earlier this year, has been earning global acclaim for its poignant exploration of the complex relationships between fathers and sons.

Centered on a man's struggle to confront inherited memories and learn how to become the father and husband he longs to be, "The Heart is a Muscle" draws on experiences specific to South Africa's Cape Flats neighborhood while also speaking to the universal search for reconciliation and belonging. Through the slow work of forgiveness, the film's protagonist embarks on a journey of self-discovery and healing, a narrative that has resonated with audiences worldwide.

Hamdulay, the film's director, expressed his delight at having "The Heart is a Muscle" represent South Africa at the prestigious Oscars ceremony. "The film is very close to my heart," he said. "It's a shared story born from the voices and experiences of the community around it, and we're just so thrilled to have it as South Africa's entry at the Academy Awards this year."