Uproar

Set in New Zealand in 1981, this comedy-drama follows Josh, a seventeen-year-old student of Māori descent. While his family is focused on rugby, Josh aspires to be an actor and spends his time avoiding racist classmates. Amidst nationwide protests against the apartheid system triggered by a visiting South African rugby team, Josh joins a drama club. Through this new hobby and a group of friends, he learns to embrace his heritage and stand up for his values and his family.

The film was directed by Paul Middleditch, who previously directed Rapture-Palooza in 2013. The screenplay was written by Sonia Whiteman and Hamish Bennett. The cast features Julian Dennison in the lead role as Josh Waaka, alongside Minnie Driver, Rhys Darby, James Rolleston, Erana James, and Ihaka Kelly. The production was a collaboration between the New Zealand Film Commission, Firefly Films, Caravan Carpark Films, and Kingston Productions.

Audience reception for the film is mixed. On IMDb, it holds a rating of 6.7/10 based on 1,900 votes, while it has a lower score of 5.9/10 on TMDB from 30 votes.