Uproar Review: A Socially Conscious Coming-Of-Age Dramedy That Puts Heart, Humanity & Humor First

There is pathos and great beauty in Paul Middleditch and Hamish Bennett’s hilarious coming-of-age story about a 17-year-old boy discovering his sense of identity and social responsibility in a politically divided New Zealand in Uproar. With a fantastic lead performance by Julian Dennison, who previously blew audiences away at 12 years old in the 2016 film Hunt for the Wilderpeople, his role as a wayward 1980s teenager struggling with his identity in Uproar adds to his impressive contribution to New Zealand cinema. A story of family expectations, self-realization, and political altercations, Uproar packs an emotional punch while remaining consistently funny.

Born to an English mother and a Māori father and growing up with his rugby-obsessed family, Josh Waaka never truly embraced his complex heritage. Since his father died when he was a child, he had little connection to his indigenous heritage. With a desire to become an actor, his mother Shirly (Minnie Driver) wants Josh to follow in the footsteps of his brother Jamie (James Rolleston), a star rugby player whose career is cut short by a crippling leg injury. Torn between conflicting expectations, Josh’s talent for performance gets encouraged by his kind-hearted drama teacher, Brother Madigan (Rhys Darby).

Uproar Has An Important Political & Social Message

Julian Dennison powerfully traverses the difficulties of finding purpose and embracing one’s own identity as a teenager.

Josh’s life is one spent sitting on the sidelines, and he is rarely one to take a stand, but demonstrations against the 1981 South African rugby tour force Josh to contemplate the parallels between the dispossession of the Māori people and the racist policies against Black South Africans. Uproar expertly blends its political backdrop with the everyday challenges of being a teenager and never feels overtly preachy or sanctimonious — Josh’s personal and political awakening happens naturally and simultaneously. As Uproar progresses, Josh connects the dots of how his experience is relevant to the current social upheavals he is witnessing.

The story of Uproar has its roots in the experiences of its co-director, Middleditch, who based the movie on himself as a teenager in Wellington in the 1980s. This true inspiration adds a feeling of authenticity. The other co-director, Bennett, also helped bring the subtlety and emotional resonance of his previous feature Bellbird to this film, which convincingly traverses comedy and drama to produce a heartfelt story populated by real characters encouraging each other in an imperfect world. The duo makes a great pairing, and Uproar acts as a significant entry into New Zealand’s increasingly impactful film industry.

While Uproar deals with political upheaval, its more personal side cannot be understated, as Josh relies on the support of those around him while the grueling demands of rugby and the increasing challenges of his acting dreams overwhelm him. Uproar is a film that’s bursting with insightful themes about what it means to find purpose as a teenager, and while it helps to highlight a moment of political tension not well-known to a global audience, the way it does this feels universal. Throughout Uproar, Josh finds meaning in others, and they in turn find it in him.

Uproar Offers An Important Portrayal Of Mixed Māori Identity

Uproar also explores the positive ripple effects of Josh’s political awakening.

There is a danger of Uproar becoming overloaded with the number of big ideas it attempts to pack into its fast-paced 110-minute runtime, but the way that it weaves its warm humor and kind-hearted message works well. The racist undertones of Josh’s school principal (Mark Mitchinson) are powerfully contrasted with the good-natured, albeit initially apolitical, guidance of Brother Madigan. Uproar holds great significance for its portrayal of mixed Māori identity, but it also crucially explores the complexity of being a supportive ally and the subtle ways people discourage and misunderstand their loved ones’ need for advocacy.

The standout aspect of Uproar must be Julian Dennison’s lead performance who, at just 21 years old, has already had an impressive career including subtle dramas and blockbuster smashes, making him one of the most impressive young actors working today. The charming, heartfelt, and witty script by Bennett and Sonia Whiteman quietly negotiated massive topics while remaining personal. Uproar hits most of the predictable beats of a coming-of-age story, but its exploration of a little-known resistance movement, and the genuine compassion and humor with which it presents its characters and world make it a heartfelt winner.