UPROAR is a moving and heartwarming comedy about connection and finding your place in the world.
17-year-old Josh Waaka (Julian Dennison) is growing up in New Zealand in 1981. The rugby-obsessed country is divided over the arrival of the South African Springboks team, sparking nationwide protests.
Josh, who has never felt like he fits in anywhere, is inspired by the protests and by a newfound passion for performing to find his own voice. After embracing his community and his Māori heritage, Josh and his family set out on a journey towards healing.
Critics Reviews:
- “Given the setting and the contemporary context, the decisions from a storytelling perspective softened its overall impact. What cannot be debated is the mana of the performances and fight for all.” – KT Mahe (For Your Reference Podcast)
- “A folksy, humorous approach to the issues underlying this Maori coming-of-age story, and an engaging lead performance, lift it clear of otherwise familiar territory” – Jane Freebury (Jane Freebury)
- “Uproar is a story set in the past that continues to push Māori stories forward – a funny, kind, warm, and bittersweet story about acceptance and rebellion. Uproar is a triumph for Aotearoa New Zealand cinema.” – Nadine Whitney (The Curb)
