On the surface, Uproar seems to have everything I tend to avoid when picking a movie I want to watch. A movie about sports, a coming-of-age story, and one about the outcast finding his voice. We’ve seen those stories hundreds of times and it’s hard to see how they could be done differently. But, thankfully, this time – I was happily proven wrong.
Uproar is based in New Zealand in the early 1980s. While the country is obsessed with rugby, racial tensions are reaching a boiling point. And at the crossroads of both worlds is a young Māori man named Josh. Being raised by his white mother, he doesn’t quite connect to his local heritage, or feel that the fight for racial equality is one that he should participate in, despite facing daily abuse from his classmates. And while he slowly finds his passion in acting, his own needs and desires are shut down by his familial commitment to helping care for his brother and his mom.
Despite the serious topics throughout the movie, there is nothing truly objectionable that younger viewers couldn’t watch this movie. It’s a simple story of a young man connecting with his heritage and finding out who and what he wants to be. Even with the protest scene that turns ugly, the movie doesn’t lean heavily on violence to make its point known. There are some tense moments but a lot less than you’d expect with a movie with the discussion of racism and division as it’s main topic.
Instead, Uproar focuses more on the relationships of Josh and his teacher and friends over everything else. It brings in cultural moments like Haka performances that set it apart from other movies and it shows that a true support network will help you achieve the goals you truly want. It is a truly enjoyable movie even with a a more serious tone and it’s a pleasure watching Josh come into his own.
Uproar currently has a limited release and is playing at select theaters.
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About Uproar:
In New Zealand, 1981, Josh Waaka is a 17-old square peg in the round, rugby-obsessed hole that is St Gilbert’s College. Meanwhile, the South African national rugby team, the Springboks, 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.