Lomu: Movie Review

Director: Gavin Fitzgerald, Vea Mafile'o

Much more than a documentary charting the rise of New Zealand's first rugby mega-star, Lomu is an intriguing look at the other side of the Tongan rugby legend.

But it's not one that's fully rounded, thanks to the lack of involvement of some figures in his personal life. In recent years, the Tongan rugby legend has become a divisive figure with schisms between his family and ex-wives only adding to the drama of his tragically brief life.

That aside, directors Gavin Fitzgerald and Vea Mafile'o's generous documentary does much to create a vision of a man who was clearly destined for greatness, but seemingly didn't quite know how to make the most of it.

From his early days as a schoolboy at South Auckland's Wesley College to pursuing his dream of becoming an All Black, the directors fashion a largely sympathetic and human portrait of the man. Blessed with plenty of archive footage, including some never-before-seen footage from life in Tonga, they assemble a foundation of not only the man, but those around him who shaped him - for better or for worse.

In many ways, it's a traditional sports doco, filled with footage of great moments from on the field and of life growing up in South Auckland, carefully and concisely assembled with great sensitivity by the filmmakers.

Yet at times, it's also frustrating with the more pertinent conflicts in his life mentioned in passing, rather than in depth. That's not to say what emerges is a hagiography in any shape or form, but moments that hint at Lomu's desire to simply run away from problems or cut off situations arise only to be left unexplored by subjects at hand who could have provided insight.

If the first hour of the doco feels celebratory as it tracks a humble man's rise to success with just a desire and a drive, the second half takes a more maudlin tone as it exposes the extent of the secrecy over Lomu's kidney issues, the way he kept the problems to himself and how much of an impact it had on the national psyche.

There are plenty of raw insights here and there's a great deal of honesty in the commentary from Lomu's mum over her hurt and pain through the years, as well as carefully chosen footage of Lomu in Tonga candidly revealing his own thoughts, plus commentary on the reality of domestic violence doled out by family members - it's an honest look into how families work and grow under pressure.

Much like Lomu's death did in New Zealand, the revelation he died comes as an absolute bolt out of the blue during the doco, kicking off another set of ugly revelations about family rows and financial matters. While this side of Lomu is rarely known to many, the filmmakers deserve to be commended for their handling of these moments as they try to present a rounded picture of the man, as well as celebrating his attitude and aptitude.

Lomu deserves to be seen; in some ways, it's a surprising film that is more than just a film about a sportsman who shaped the New Zealand collective psyche - it's painfully raw, emotive and ultimately uplifting.