'Uproar' Now in Cinemas

Congratulations to Hamish Bennett on the theatrical release of his New Zealand coming-of-age film, Uproar.

The film is set in 1981 in Dunedin, with rugby-obsessed New Zealand grappling with the arrival of the South African Springboks team. It follows Dennison as 17-year-old (Josh Waaka), who finds his voice, embraces his community, and embarks on a journey of self-discovery rooted in his Māori heritage.

Uproar marks Hamish Bennett’s sophomore feature, co-written with Sonia Whiteman and co-directed with Paul Middleditch.

Karl Puschmann praised the film in his four-star review in the NZ Herald, stating, “It is a powerful and emotional one. It details a pivotal and confronting period in Aotearoa’s history and grounds it in a relatable and personal story. The sprinkling of actual news footage of the protests and riot police throughout only strengthens its message.”

The film was produced by Angela Cudd and Sandra Kailahi, along with Firefly Films, and distributed by Blue Fox Entertainment.

 Uproar is screening in Australian theatres from November 30th, 2023.