Only three of the 20 actors from the legendary film remain alive, including Romualdas Ramanauskas

For older Lithuanian viewers, “Long Road Through the Dunes” remains closely tied to the actors who became household names through the Soviet-era television film. Today, only three of the 20 people associated with the production are still alive, and Romualdas Ramanauskas is the only surviving lead actor.

The film, made between 1980 and 1982, followed the love story of three central characters through a historical lens. Ramanauskas played Richard, a role he felt was unusually vivid, expressive and sincere. He also saw in the character the qualities of a dissident and a patriot seeking a free Latvia, aligned with neither Germany nor Russia.

That perspective resonated across the three Baltic states, and Ramanauskas believed the film had lasting value. Although he had already performed extensively in theater, he sensed that the production would be exceptional and wanted to leave a strong mark. He still feels pleased that the film survived and remains memorable.

Ramanauskas preserved letters from admirers. Even several years ago, a Russian fan traveled from deep inside Russia to Vilnius to obtain the actor’s autograph. The film’s wide audience turned its leading actors into recognizable representatives of their homelands, while its memories remain part of Ramanauskas’s personal career archive.