Langafstand: an inspiring documentary about an athlete who dreams big

How does one escape difficult life circumstances? For Deon-Lee Hendricks the answer is, “With your running shoes.”

This renowned long-distance athlete who lives in Cloetesville on the far side of Stellenbosch, could easily have become entangled in gang violence. Yet today he is known in his community as “the hope of Cloetesville”.

The inspiring Silwerskerm Festival documentary Langafstand shines the spotlight on Deon-Lee. While he tells his life story, the camera follows him on an important mission: his preparation for the Potchefstroom cross-country trials which could earn him the green and gold.

The documentary means a lot to Deon-Lee, who trains hard every day to reach greater heights: “As my coach says, what you do in the dark comes out in the light.”

In Langafstand we see how Deon-Lee’s coach, Jacques Jansen van Rensburg, and his mentors, the veteran athletes Elana Meyer and Zola Budd, hone his technique and also support him as a person.

Langafstand is produced and directed by Frankie Opperman and Reginald Hufkie.

Reginald, or Reggie Pearce as he is known in rapper circles, shares a love of sports with Deon-Lee. Drive is another thing they have in common.

Before he became a well-known actor with roles in television series like Huis Lelieveld and Desert Rose, Reginald – just like Deon-Lee – had a “long way to the top”.

Reginald comes from the Port Elizabeth area, where as a youngster in squatter camp, he was exposed to gambling and alcohol and drug abuse. In the hope of a better life, he approached welfare workers with the request to be placed in an Afrikaans orphanage.

During high school Reginald immersed himself in music, writing and race-walking. The walking eventually led to national colours and, just like Deon-Lee, Reginald met caring people who helped him with a university scholarship. And that’s where the acting bug bit.

Reginald always wanted to tell athletics stories and stories with meaning. To this end he developed a play about his life, The Athlete with Lizz Meiring.

His motto is self-evident, “If you want to bring about change, you have to create it yourself.” That’s exactly what Deon-Lee also does. “Deon-Lee’s career is now somewhere towards the middle of the ladder and I believe he will touch many more people’s lives,” says Reginald.

Langafstand screens on Thursday 24 August at 11:30 at the festival and be available on kykNET and Showmax thereafter.