“We all have our stories; they aren’t there to pull us down, they’re there to push us forward.” This is a quote from filmmakers Paul Middleditch and Hamish Bennett, who co-directed “Uproar.” Often, we push forward by reflecting on our own lives, taking in the world around us, and attempting to understand the human condition. It is clear that the filmmakers are both artists that does just that, as is evident from their new film.
Set in New Zealand in the early 1980s, “Uproar” follows Josh Waaka, a 17-year-old who is trying to discover who he is. As the Springboks rugby team, which represents Apartheid-era South Africa, tours New Zealand protests break out across the country leading Josh to face a greater awareness of his heritage as the Māori and New Zealand struggle for their identities.
“Uproar,” as the trailer which you can watch below highlights, is a relatable, heartwarming comedy that has an immensely talented cast. Josh is played by Julian Dennison, who stars alongside Minnie Driver, Mark Mitchinson, and Rhys Darby.
The film is set to have its world premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. Middleditch co-directed the film alongside Bennett, a New Zealand Māori writer/director best known for “Bellbird,” which screened at the Calgary Film Festival in 2019. The film is written by Hamish Bennett and Sonia Whiteman.
You can watch the exclusive trailer for “Uproar” below.
Here’s the official synopsis:
In New Zealand, 1981, Josh Waaka is a 17-year-old square peg in the round, rugby-obsessed hole that is St Gilbert’s College. Meanwhile, the Springboks rugby team, representing Apartheid-era South Africa, are touring New Zealand, sparking nationwide protests and dividing the country. Josh’s newfound passion for acting, as well as a greater awareness of his Māori heritage, sends him tumbling headlong into conflict where he is forced to either conform or stand up for himself, his whānau (family) and his future. Uproar is the funny and heartwarming story of a young man’s battle to find his true voice, set against the volatile backdrop of New Zealand’s fight for its national identity.
