The official trailer for Lomu, a controversial documentary exploring the life of All Blacks great Jonah Lomu, has been released ahead of the film's premiere in New Zealand later this year.
Directed by New Zealand filmmaker Vea Mafile’o and Irish filmmaker Gavin Fitzgerald, the film promises an intimate portrait of the late winger, who died in 2015.
The documentary traces Lomu’s journey from South Auckland to becoming a global rugby superstar, while also examining the personal struggles he faced away from the spotlight.
Released last week, the documentary trailer featured archival footage and interviews with Lomu's family, friends, teammates and coaches.
The project was delayed for years by a legal battle over the use of Lomu's name and image.
A trademark dispute between his widow, Nadene Lomu, and estate executor Chris Darlow stalled production before a tribunal ruled Nadene Lomu did not hold exclusive rights to his image, allowing the documentary to proceed as an official project.
The New Zealand Film Commission pledged $800,000 in funding to the documentary.
Lomu premiered at the Dublin International Film Festival in February, and will have its Australian premiere at the Sydney Film Festival on June 13 before its New Zealand premiere at Auckland’s Civic Theatre on August 1.
It has been scheduled for a wider cinema release across New Zealand and Australia in September.
Co-director Mafile’o said the bringing the documentary to New Zealand was "especially meaningful".
"This story belongs to our people. To premiere LOMU at home, in Tāmaki Makaurau where so much of Jonah’s journey began, is incredibly special," she said.
"It's about honouring not just his legacy, but the community, culture and faith that shaped him - and sharing that with the audiences who carry that same pride."
Prior to screening in New Zealand, the film will return to Tonga for a special public screening — something Mafile’o said carried deep personal and cultural significance.
“There's an old Tongan proverb, 'Pikipiki hama ka tau vaevae manava,' so bringing LOMU home to Tonga honours that.
"'Pikipiki hama ka tau vaevae manava' reminds us that when the seas get rough, we tie our vaka together and help each other breathe."
Lomu burst onto the international stage as a teenager during the 1995 Rugby World Cup, where his combination of size, speed and power transformed the sport and helped accelerate rugby’s transition into the professional era.
He was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome, a serious kidney disorder, at the height of his dominance. Despite his illness, Lomu starred again at the 1999 World Cup, before his health rapidly deteriorated in the early 2000s.
Lomu died in 2015 aged just 40, prompting an outpouring of grief in New Zealand and around the world.
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