It’s hard to make ends meet in today’s world, and the things that make the most money are rarely the most appealing. Selling a product that may or may not be all that great is the only option for some people, and the particular blend of desperation and apathy in their pitch can make all the difference in its effectiveness. God Bless You, Mr Kopu pairs two extremely different individuals as they go door-to-door hawking a product that they know isn’t anywhere near as incredible or worthwhile as they make it out to be, waiting for their deceptive behavior to catch up with them and force them to consider the weight and impact of their actions.
Mafu Kopu (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) is in need of money, and he’s presented with an opportunity that sounds too good to be true from an American salesman, Marco (Simon Rex). Mafu soon becomes the key champion of this cleaning product, working in partnership with Marco to convince everyone he meets that this is something that they must have and which can fix most if not all of their problems. As he enters a whirlwind relationship with an actress (Grace Palmer), he begins to question how he’s making all of these sales and if there’s something more inexplicable and sinister going on with his new partner.
This film gets its title from a phrase Marco says again and again to Mafu, indicative in theory of a reverence for him and the life he leads but said in a manner that suggests that Marco is taking advantage of this very agreeable man’s kindness and trust. Marco is the definition of a slimy opportunist, very skilled at talking without really saying anything but disturbingly persuasive. Mafu is in a position where he really can’t negotiate or ask for much, making him the perfect target for someone who knows exactly how to find a mark who’s willing to do just about anything if he thinks it’s help make his life better.
Just as Mafu and Marco couldn’t be any more unalike, so too are the actors playing them. Schuster-Koloamatangi, best known for his starring role opposite Elle Fanning in Predator: Badlands, plays Mafu as reserved and polite, but also capable of strong reactions to unexpected scenarios, especially when his memory starts to play tricks on him and he begins losing track of time. Rex, who memorably ran his mouth throughout all of Sean Baker’s Red Rocket, tones down his chaotic nature to play someone here who says a lot but does so in order to create an environment of confusion where it’s nearly impossible not to be drawn in by his distinctly oil charm.
Alex Liu makes a noteworthy feature directorial debut with this film, which he also wrote. His Tongan heritage adds another layer to this New Zealand-set film, where people might be more inherently trusting but where an American still sticks out and doesn’t even pretend to care about the culture that unites Mafu and all of the people they visit, separating them considerably from this predatory white man with few apparent redeeming qualities. This story is just strange enough to be believable, infusing a perfect degree of mysticism and inexplicable developments to drive a narrative that’s based on one man who is essentially pure good and another who is the opposite. It’s at its best when it leans into the dynamic duo at its center – and gives a standout Palmer a chance to develop her character – and the way in which they’re seemingly thriving when they’re ahead and no one’s caught onto them yet.
Movie Rating: 7/10
God Bless You, Mr Kopu makes its world premiere in the Centrepiece section at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival.
