Uproar

Josh Waaka grows up in Dunedin with his widowed mother Shirley and older brother Jamie. He attends the rugby-focused St Gilbert's School for Men and feels the pressure of a white-dominated, patriotic culture. His mixed Māori and European heritage shapes his sense of belonging and his ambition to express himself through acting.

Jamie is a former rugby star whose promising career is halted by a crippling leg injury. The injury shifts family expectations away from Jamie's on-field glory toward Josh's future and the school's pressure to win. This dynamic sets up the rivalry and support that shape their actions later.

Brother Madigan emerges as a mentor to Josh, recognizing his acting potential and urging him to pursue it. He hints at opportunities beyond rugby, including a path to the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Australia. The mentorship broadens Josh's horizons amid school pressures.

Through Samantha, Josh is drawn into the growing anti-tour protest movement in Dunedin. She introduces him to the cause and to Tui, a member of the Māori community who shares perspectives on dispossession and solidarity with Black South Africans. This political awakening challenges Josh's desire to fit in at school.

Principal Slane and Coach Dennis enlist Jamie to coach St Gilbert's rugby in hopes of winning the season, while Shirley agrees that Josh can join the team. The arrangement places Josh at the heart of rugby culture and team politics. The stakes are high as the school equates success with national pride.

Samantha urges Josh to document protests, and he borrows Madigan's camera to film them in Dunedin. Pro-tour supporters clash with anti-tour protesters, and the police disperse the crowd, with Tui hospitalised. Josh's footage captures the intensity and cost of the conflict.

Josh's footage lands him on the local newspaper's front page, provoking Slane to consider expulsion. Jamie threatens to resign as assistant coach to shield his brother, turning the confrontation into a public showdown between family loyalty and institutional authority.

The rugby season's demands pull Josh away from the drama club, causing him to miss a key audition. Still determined, he convinces Madigan to film an audition reel, drawing on the play Foreskin's Lament for material. The plan signals Josh's commitment to both sport and art.

Madigan's recording of the audition helps shift Shirley's view, and she begins to accept Josh's acting aspirations. The mother's support grows, signaling a shift in family expectations toward Josh's artistic path.

Josh helps St Gilbert's secure a narrow victory on the field, but the celebration is overshadowed by an arson attack on the local marae. Slane obstructs the police investigation by claiming the team attended a drinking party at Dennis's home, exposing a willingness to cover up misconduct.

Growing disillusioned with Slane's apathy, Josh stages a sit-in during a crucial rugby match. He is joined by Shirley, Jamie, Madigan, Samantha and several players, turning the game into a silent protest for justice. The protest brings play to a standstill and intensifies pressure on the school's leadership.

After the stand, Jamie provides evidence to the police challenging Slane's account of the marae fire. The film then leaps forward to 1984, ending with Josh lining up for an acting audition at a new school and ready to pursue his dream beyond rugby and politics.