‘The Long Road’ generates big buzz
It was a long road to the finished film, with director Errol Geingob highlighting that the movie is inspired by real-life situations and stories of men striving to live, provide and heal while carrying unresolved scars from the past.
Desert Films makes a triumphant return with its newest release, The Long Road, premiering this Saturday on DStv.Shot entirely in Namibia with local talent, the film has already sparked excitement online, with its trailer generating buzz across social media.
Director Errol Geingob and producer Josefine Geingob recently shared insights into the making of the film.
The Long Road was inspired by real-life situations and stories Errol has encountered over the years.
“The film draws from stories I’ve seen of men who are striving to live, provide and heal while carrying unresolved scars from the past,” he said. “The story is incredibly personal to me, and it has been with me for almost five years.”
He added that the film examines the effects of paternal absence and how emotional gaps can follow a boy into adulthood. It aims to portray “the narrative of an ordinary working-class man - not a hero - who is deeply flawed, yet deserving of forgiveness”.
According to Errol, it was important to show that healing is a journey and that “the path to becoming a better man and father can be long, painful and uncertain, but necessary”.
He said the biggest creative challenge was “finding the right emotional balance, telling a grounded, genuine story without becoming too heavy or hopeless”.
While the film explores themes of grief, failure and regret, it also offers moments of optimism and human connection.
Approach
Errol said his approach to directing focused on allowing “silence, body language and the environment to say as much as the dialogue”, while working closely with the cast. Trust and vulnerability, he explained, were central to the process. “Before stepping on set, we spent time talking about the characters’ backstories; who they are, where they come from, and the emotional scars they carry.”
Actors were encouraged to draw on real-life experiences, particularly those involving family, loss and responsibility.
On set, he allowed scenes to unfold naturally rather than imposing performances, resulting in honest, layered portrayals that audiences can connect with on a personal level.
Actor Diana Master described the pre-filming process. “There wasn’t much time to prepare for the role, so once we received the script, the director had us write letters,” she said. “I had to write a letter to Martin, my husband in the film, and he wrote one to me. It helped us see whether we truly understood the story.”
Explaining what drew her to the role, Master said it was a new challenge. “This was my first time playing a supportive wife in a film and my first time in such a role. It was emotionally demanding because it’s not who I am in real life, and it’s a character I had never played before.”
Deeply human elements
From producer Josefine Geingob’s perspective, Desert Films became involved organically. She said the company is drawn to stories that are “honest, socially relevant and deeply human”.
What stood out in The Long Road script was its emotional truth and strong Namibian identity, telling a story rooted in everyday struggles, fatherhood, responsibility and redemption from a working-class perspective.
The project, she said, was “not only achievable within our context, but also meaningful and capable of connecting with audiences beyond Namibia”, making it a natural fit for Desert Films.
For the production company, The Long Road represents growth, resilience and consistency.
“We have been in the industry for over two decades, and The Long Road reflects our commitment to telling authentic Namibian stories that speak to broader African realities,” the producer said.
