Heart of the Man

Director: David Cook, 85 min, Australia

Aspiring boxer Chris (Parker Little) lives in the shadow of his father, Sammy (director David Cook), a former champion still grieving the loss of his wife. Determined to see his son succeed where he could not, Sammy pushes Chris toward the boxing dream he never achieved. But as Chris begins to explore his attraction to Jamie (Tyrel Dulvarie) and finds a sense of belonging among the local theatre community, he starts to question whether his future truly lies in the ring. In this poignant family drama, Cook shines a light on the underrepresentation of queer Indigenous stories in film, crafting a heartfelt narrative about self-discovery, acceptance, and breaking free from the weight of generational expectations.