“We all have our stories; they aren’t there to pull us down, they’re there to push us forward.” 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 Paul Middleditch is an artist that does just that; as the director from New South Wales, Australia, pulls from his youth in his new film “Uproar.”

Set in New Zealand in the early 1980s, the film 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-wrote and co-directed the film alongside Hamish Bennett, a New Zealand Māori writer/director best known for “Bellbird,” which screened at the Calgary Film Festival in 2019.

Check out the trailer here!

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