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Debut Film Explores Father's Fear and Forgiveness
6 Dec
Summary
- The Heart Is a Muscle is South Africa's contender for the Best International Feature Oscar.
- Inspired by a real-life incident, the film follows a father's intense reaction to his son's disappearance.
- The low-budget film was made quickly, with the script completed in just two months.
South Africa's cinematic hopeful, "The Heart Is a Muscle," is vying for the Best International Feature Oscar. This debut film from director Imran Hamdulay delves into the profound emotional landscape of a father grappling with fear and its aftermath. The narrative follows Ryan, a father whose son goes missing during a celebration, triggering a visceral reaction that unravels deep-seated secrets and initiates a journey toward self-discovery and absolution.
The genesis of the film lies in a startling real-life event that director Hamdulay witnessed, where a similar situation evoked intense fear and anger. This personal connection fueled the creation of the movie, which was produced on a modest budget of $200,000. Hamdulay credits executive producer Adam Thal with pushing the project forward rapidly, even tasking him with completing the script in an ambitious two-month timeframe, leading to shooting on the second draft.
