Paul Middleditch’s fifth feature film, the dramatic comedy Uproar, received a standing ovation at the recent Toronto Film Festival and will be opening in theaters across the U.S. on Friday (3/15). Starring Julian Dennison, who was the lead in Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016), the highest-grossing New Zealand film in history, Uproar is a rousing coming-of-age story about Josh Waaka, an awkward young New Zealander of mixed Maori and English parentage, played by Dennison, who comes into his own during protests against apartheid and racism in the 1980s. The film costars Minnie Driver as Josh’s mom and Rhys Darby as his teacher. Praised by critics and audiences, Uproar garnered a rare rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Loosely based on Middleditch’s experience growing up in New Zealand as a self-described outsider with self-esteem issues, and a high school rugby player, Uproar highlights the intersection More