'The story's universally relevant': We talk to Keenan Arrison, star of 'The Heart is a Muscle'

Acclaimed actor Keenan Arrison joins CapeTalk's Sara-Jayne Makwala King for an in-depth interview. 

The new South African film The Heart is a Muscle is raking in the awards both at home and at international film festivals.

Written and directed by Imran Hamdulay, it stars Keenan Arrison as a young father catapulted into a journey of self-discovery when his five-year-old son briefly goes missing.

The story plays out on the Cape Flats, where dad Ryan's violent reaction to this missing child scare sets off a chain of events and unearths secrets from a collective past.

The film premiered at the 2025 Silwerskermfees in Cape Town, where it took home the award for Best Feature Film, and hit local cinemas this September.

On Weekend Breakfast, Arrison shares how fortunate they feel to be able to tell this story.

"The story is so universally relevant, and we picked that up when we were in Berlin. It is a film that will definitely travel; it already has."

Keenan Arrison, Actor

"It's such a privilege and also a great responsibility to be able to tell this story and to play this character."

Keenan Arrison, Actor

The film delves into toxic masculinity, a subject that is in the spotlight around the world, but particularly in South Africa where it's often linked to a violent past.

The relationship between fathers and sons is at the root of this complex issue.

"What happens after the child is found is that Ryan gets sent down this path of self-discovery and rediscovery... This story talks about fathers and sons, masculinity.... but we look at the other side of masculinity, with a kinder lens if you will."

Keenan Arrison, Actor

"And Ryan's journey takes us down a path which we don't even realise... He finds forgiveness not just for his father but for the self."

Keenan Arrison, Actor

The generational trauma that Ryan and his group of friends are left with is something they've been suppressing, Arrison goes on.

As such, the film will also be used as a tool to continue this important conversation about the things men need to face up to, in collaboration with Danny Ross, creator of the podcast series When Men Heal.

Does playing a multi-layered character like Ryan trigger food for thought for him as an actor too? asks SJ.

What it unearths, has stayed with him, says Arrison.

"This character really pushed me to places for myself as Keenan, and look at what my relationship was like with my dad, his relationship with his dad, and what is that cycle."

Keenan Arrison, Actor

The upside to The Heart Is a Muscle, is that it IS about healing, Arrison says.

"As men we are so trapped, so caught up in this cage if you will, and I think the film is a conversation starter, especially amongst men."

Keenan Arrison, Actor

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to this enlightening conversation