An intimate family drama exploring inherited trauma, obligation, and the impossible act of letting go, Landmyn reunites three siblings whose carefully built lives begin to unravel when the mother they have spent years trying to escape returns unexpectedly. What follows is a deeply emotional examination of family, memory, and the lingering grip of the past.
Shot in just 16 days, Landmyn marks writer-director Nico Scheepers’s second feature film, an acclaimed playwright and theatre director who won eight Silwerskerm Awards with his debut feature Hen in 2025, while his television series Donkerbos also earned multiple accolades, including the SAFTA for Best Director.
‘When it comes to real families and people who have to endure one another, you cannot tread lightly, says Scheepers. ‘I believe it is our responsibility as storytellers to move people, not merely entertain them. To make them think, and feel, and wonder. And feel ashamed. What a wonderful, uncomfortable experience – to feel ashamed in a dark theatre among strangers.’
Landmyn is not about how we want to be, but about how we are. People are complex, messy beings who cause just as much hurt as they heal – especially with ourselves, and with those who are supposed to be closest to us: our family.
I don’t want to tell stories that comfort and soothe viewers, making them feel better about aspects of themselves they want to hide. Sit in the dark and be honest with yourself. Families are difficult. Not all homes are good homes. And surviving together despite it all also deserves a story.
While I was writing the film, I was involved with Anna-Mart (van der Merwe), Carla (Smith), and Ben (Albertyn) in a theatre process for the production Speelgoed van glas. It was a wonderful opportunity, because I was able to spend time with them long before filming began, and there was already a good rapport and shared work ethic. With Nicole Holm, I would tackle any mountain – and Dhania (Schultz) and Juan-Christoff (Smith, Carla’s younger brother) slipped into our pool like fish in water. It was a wonderful process. Difficult too, but nothing worth doing is easy. The actors are the heart of the film. Their dedication and fearlessness are astounding. Anna-Mart is one of the finest people I know, and she went to a very dark place to find Annatjie.
I am currently writing my first book, working on a new Afrikaans drama series, while my new stage play, Leefbaar, has made its debut at the Free State Arts Festival.
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