A legendary figure in New Zealand sporting history, Lomu’s life was tragically cut short, leaving behind a career, playing style and promise that still make us wonder what might have been. Now, directors Gavin Fitzgerald and Vea Mafile’o deliver an intimate and deeply affecting portrait of the man behind the legend in LOMU; an intriguing, poignant and complex examination of an athlete, a son and a man.

It is an experience you will deeply feel.

An intimate and heartfelt character study about legendary All Black Jonah Lomu, tracing his Tongan upbringing, meteoric rise to fame, and the complicated personal and health battles he faced at the pinnacle of world rugby.

The Making of a Legend

No stranger to gripping documentary portraits of fascinating figures, Irish filmmaker Gavin Fitzgerald, whose previous work has explored subjects including Conor McGregor and Liam Gallagher, finds an utterly compelling subject in Lomu.

Driven by his own passion for rugby and memories of watching the sport’s first global superstar, Fitzgerald, alongside co-director Vea Mafile’o, sets out to understand the man beneath the phenomenon.

And what makes LOMU so compelling is the decision to wind the clock back.

Rather than beginning with the superstar who bulldozed his way through international defences, the filmmakers return to the origins of Jonah Lomu, exploring a complex and at times traumatic childhood spent between Tonga and New Zealand. His difficult relationship with his father and the profound love and connection he shared with his mother Hepi become essential pieces of the puzzle.

It is here that LOMU begins to reveal the person behind the sporting icon.

That early life eventually leads Lomu to the rugby pitch, where audiences witness his transformation into a gifted and award-winning player at Wesley College before his extraordinary rise to the All Blacks. At just 19 years and 45 days, Lomu became the youngest All Black Test player in history.

The filmmakers give considerable attention to this formative period, complemented by previously unseen home-video footage that offers an intimate window into Jonah’s early life and the experiences that helped shape the man he would become.

When Rugby Met Jonah Lomu

Lomu’s rise coincided almost perfectly with rugby’s transition into the professional era, and there could scarcely have been a more perfect player to become its first global superstar.

LOMU captures the sheer scale of his impact, particularly during the 1995 Rugby World Cup, when the 20-year-old winger announced himself to the world with a series of performances that remain etched into sporting history.

The image of Lomu charging through England’s Mike Catt became one of the defining moments of the tournament, and one of the most enduring images in rugby history.

But the documentary is just as interested in what happened away from the pitch.

As Lomu’s profile exploded, so too did the attention. Money, women, fame and a jet-setting lifestyle suddenly surrounded a young man who had become one of the most recognisable athletes on the planet. Rugby had never seen a star quite like him.

The Tragedy Behind the Greatness

Yet just as Lomu’s star was reaching extraordinary heights, tragedy began to close in.

His battle with kidney disease would severely impact his playing career, robbing him of years that could have seen him reach even greater heights. He would return for the 1999 Rugby World Cup, but the World Cup glory he so desperately wanted would continue to elude him.

Interviews with family, friends and acquaintances, alongside some of the biggest names from that era, including former All Black captain Sean Fitzpatrick and All Blacks coach John Hart, provide crucial context for this period of Lomu’s life.

And it is here that LOMU becomes increasingly heartbreaking.

Lomu was, in many ways, an unknowable figure. His personal life was complicated and often turbulent, while his deteriorating health placed an enormous burden on both his career and his life away from rugby.

The sadness of Jonah’s story is unavoidable, but Fitzgerald and Mafile’o never attempt to shy away from it.
Instead, they embrace it.

Because to remove the tragedy from Lomu’s story would ultimately be to diminish the truth of the man himself. This is not a documentary interested in simply celebrating the legend; it wants to understand the human being who lived beneath it.

Who Does Jonah Lomu Belong To?

What emerges is a remarkably complete portrait of Jonah Lomu — rugby player, son, cultural figure and man.
At its heart, LOMU asks audiences to consider the complicated question of Lomu’s legacy, his identity and, ultimately, who he belonged to.

Was he Tongan? Was he a New Zealander? Was he an All Black? Or did he belong to the millions of people around the world who watched him and were utterly captivated by what they saw?

There are no easy answers.

And that is precisely what makes LOMU so powerful.

Final Verdict: The Definitive Portrait of a Sporting Icon

Made with genuine love, sincerity and an obvious reverence for its subject, LOMU holds nothing back in its portrait of one of rugby’s most extraordinary figures. It celebrates the giant who changed the game, while never forgetting the vulnerable human being underneath the jersey.

Jonah Lomu may have left the rugby field decades ago, but his shadow remains enormous. LOMU is a fitting, moving and deeply human reminder of why.

Image: MadMan Films

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Directed by Vea Mafile’o and Gavin Fitzgerald, LOMU promises to deliver an intimate portrait of one of the greatest sporting figures New Zealand has ever produced, tracing Lomu’s remarkable journey from the streets of South Auckland to becoming a global sporting phenomenon whose influence transcended rugby itself.

More than simply a sports documentary, LOMU seeks to explore the man behind the myth, examining the cultural significance, personal sacrifices and immense pressures faced by one of the world’s first truly global rugby superstars.

Watch the full trailer for LOMU below:

Ahead of its official release, the film will return home to Tonga for a special public screening at Teufaiva Rugby Stadium on July 29. The event will serve as a celebration of Lomu’s enduring legacy and his deep connection to the Kingdom of Tonga, whose values, culture and people played a profound role in shaping his identity.

For co-director Vea Mafile’o, bringing the film back to Tonga represents a deeply meaningful moment.

Drawing upon the Tongan proverb “Pikipiki hama ka tau vaevae manava,” Mafile’o explained that the screening reflects the idea of communities coming together, sharing strength and supporting one another through life’s challenges.
She also noted that the event embodies the generosity that defined Lomu throughout his life.

“Jonah was known as someone who always gave to people, to friends, to family, to community and to those around him,” said Mafile’o. “In many ways, this screening has become an extension of that same generosity.”

The free public screening is expected to be a landmark cultural event, made even more significant by the return of Lomu’s mother to Tonga for the occasion. Mafile’o expressed hope that the screening would become a moment of collective pride and celebration for Tongans both at home and across the Pacific.

LOMU looks set to offer audiences unprecedented access to the life of the rugby icon through intimate interviews with family members, friends, teammates and coaches, alongside extensive archival material and never-before-seen family footage.

The documentary explores not only Lomu’s extraordinary achievements on the field but also the personal cost of global fame. Beneath the powerful runs and iconic performances was a humble and deeply grounded man whose life was shaped by his Tongan heritage, Christian faith and the immense responsibility of representing both his people and his nation on the world stage.

For many rugby fans, Jonah Lomu was the player who changed the sport forever. His explosive performances at the 1995 Rugby World Cup transformed him into a global icon and inspired an entire generation of athletes throughout the Pacific and beyond.

Now, LOMU seeks to tell the complete story of that remarkable journey.

The documentary will premiere in Australia at the Sydney Film Festival on June 13 before making its Aotearoa premiere at Auckland’s Civic Theatre on August 1. LOMU will then arrive in cinemas across New Zealand and Australia this September.

Judging by its first trailer, this looks set to be far more than a sporting documentary. Instead, LOMU appears poised to become a moving celebration of identity, resilience, faith and the lasting legacy of one of rugby’s greatest sons.

Image: MadMan Films

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Directed by Vea Mafile’o and Gavin Fitzgerald, LOMU is no ordinary sports documentary. This is a deeply human portrait of Jonah Lomu: the South Auckland kid who became a global force of nature. From the streets of Tāmaki Makaurau to the grandest stages in world rugby, the film charts his meteoric rise and seismic impact on the game, while peeling back the layers of the man behind the myth.

Through intimate interviews with family, friends, teammates and coaches, alongside a treasure trove of archival material, including never-before-seen family footage, LOMU reveals the quieter truths of a global icon. Beneath the powerhouse presence was a grounded, humble young man guided by Tongan values, deep faith, and the immense responsibility of representing both culture and country.

When Jonah Lomu exploded onto the international scene, rugby was never the same again. At just 19, he became the youngest All Black in history, redefining what was possible with a blend of size, speed and sheer force that left defenders in his wake. The film builds to the unforgettable 1995 Rugby World Cup — a tournament where Lomu didn’t just dominate, he transformed the sport into a global spectacle.

Yet behind the highlights and headlines, a silent battle was unfolding. LOMU doesn’t shy away from the harsh reality of his kidney disorder, offering a sobering look at the personal cost of greatness and the resilience that defined his later years.

At its core, LOMU is a story of identity — a Pasifika narrative that pulses with pride, faith and resilience. It explores the weight carried by one of rugby’s first global superstars, and the cultural significance of a man who changed not just how the game is played, but who it belongs to.

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For co-director Vea Mafile’o, bringing the film back to Aotearoa carries profound meaning: this is more than a premiere — it’s a homecoming. A tribute not just to Lomu’s legacy, but to the community and culture that shaped him.

Big, emotional, and deeply resonant, this is a documentary that hits with the same force as Lomu in full flight — unstoppable, unforgettable, and proudly ours.

With its Centrepiece status locked in, LOMU is shaping up to be one of NZIFF 2026’s defining cinematic events.

Image: MadMan Films

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