Uproar

New Zealand, 1981. Seventeen-year-old Josh Waaka is a mixed-up, mixed-race Maori kid who has internalized the racist bullying meted out to him at the posh boys’ school he attends on a scholarship (his English mum is the cleaning lady, and his dad and older brother led the rugby team to glory). The principal thinks Josh has the bulk to help this year’s team. But his drama teacher (Rhys Darby) sees this shy young man come out of his shell when he’s performing. Meanwhile Josh’s best friend wants him to take a stand and join the protests against the South African springbok tour.

Uproar is a charming coming of age story with a nice balance between humour, politics, and psychological drama. The film’s not-so-secret weapon is Julian Dennison — the kid from Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016) — who effortlessly embodies Josh’s journey from confusion and befuddlement to conviction and self-knowledge. He’s eminently relatable… and the parallels between Canadian and New Zealand colonialism will strike a chord too.

A warm teen comedy that gradually develops into a powerful coming-of-age drama.

Alex Hudson, exclaim!

A laugh-out-loud-funny drama that adeptly delves into complicated issues of allyship and racial identity.

Victor Stiff, That Shelf

Dennison once again brings his signature warmth, humor, and pathos for a singular and deeply affecting performance… the film has such a big heart it’s hard to resist its crowd-pleasing charms.

Mary E Gates, rogerebert.com

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