Movie Review: The Heart is a Muscle
One-liner: Tough yet tender, this is a gritty, elegant and powerful crime drama thriller with sharp performances.
The Heart is a Muscle, a contemporary social crime drama thriller from writer-director Imran Hamdulay, is set in Cape Town. A couple discovers their five-year-old son is missing. After a desperate search, they descend upon a neighbourhood where a man supposedly last seen with his son is drinking with his friends. The father, Ryan, drags the man back to his apartment, demanding to see his son.
Things escalate violently, but when Ryan’s son found safe at home – he must take account. The father’s soul-searching journey begins as he’s forced to reckon with his actions. While the film has parallels to Prisoners, where Hugh Jackman’s character goes to extreme lengths to find his children, this is where the story diverges.
The Heart is a Muscle takes on a much more intimate and thoughtful approach, transforming into a character study of a man who must take responsibility for his actions. Pushed to the edge, Ryan confronts his own flaws and realizes he needs to break the cycle of generational trauma. The film is a thought-provoking drama with a temperament similar to the work of Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi, best known for The Salesman and A Separation.
While the crime drama thriller could have gone into more traditional genre spaces, it opts for a gentler approach. It recalls the raw, documentary-like realism of The Wire through its camera work and authenticity. The cinematography is intimate and grounded, giving the story a sense of realism and grit without becoming too distant. This blend of rugged elegance and hard knock lived experiences recalls the street smarts of Moonlight.
The film’s focus on the protagonist, Ryan, unfolds with a slice-of-life flow, moving from a suburban home in Ottery to more impoverished areas. The simple story’s emotional impact is felt throughout, especially in its exploration of the complex relationship between fathers and their sons.
“Sweat, tears or the sea…”
Tough yet tender, The Heart is a Muscle finds a fine balance, moving with restraint through tense scenes that are often on a knife’s edge. The film’s unpredictability and bittersweet tone are maintained by its choice to hold back rather than double down. It keeps its humanity, offering some altruistic and character-defining moments that challenge the audience’s prejudices.
The film’s authenticity makes it relatable, and the performances are grounded in the familiar Cape Town setting. Keenan Arrison leads with a well-weighted and nuanced performance as the tough yet vulnerable Ryan. He’s ably supported by a solid ensemble, including Melissa de Vries as his wife, Laila, who says a lot without saying anything, and Dean Marais as Andre, who shows a marked progression and layered complexity.
The Heart is a Muscle benefits from earnest performances, complex characters, a strong sense of authenticity, and intricate drama, all elevated by masterful tension. It’s a deft social crime drama that subverts clichés for a more grounded depiction of life in the neighborhood. While emotionally engaging and lifelike in its storytelling, some parts like the opening scene feel a bit disconnected and the ending leaves you wanting more.
This is a well-crafted film with a strong balance of underlying tension, which makes a compelling character portrait. Amid strong performances and rich psychological insights, it’s a touching and thoughtful exploration of fatherhood and what it means to take responsibility for oneself. The film’s restraint and nuance distinguish it from more action-oriented crime dramas and give it emotional weight and an understated elegance.
The bottom line: Compelling
