Temple Road

Incoming Editorial·Reviewed May 7, 2026

Temple Road is a journey into the heart of womanhood, taking its name from the road that leads to the temple in the director’s hometown of Nyeri, Kenya. Inspired by childhood experiences, including women-only ceremonies and family Polaroid photos taken between the 1950s and 1970s, the film recreates a woman’s spiritual and ritual preparation. Weaving a dreamlike narrative, it blends the rituals of Kenya’s Indian heritage with the diversity of Kenyan cultures, reflected in a multicultural cast and intertwined ceremonies. Celebrating the sanctity of community, it creates a sacred space where women express themselves freely through rituals, song, and dance. Temple Road is both a tribute to the past and a call to recognize women as bearers of culture and tradition amidst increasing violence against them in Kenya.