Julian Dennison and James Rolleston: Kiwi actors on their new film 'Uproar'

Julian Dennison and James Rolleston are familiar faces to fans of kiwi films. 

The pair started acting young, starring in Taika Waititi’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Boy, respectively.  

The award-winning actors returned to New Zealand screens October 5th with the highly anticipated local feature film Uproar, a story about connection and finding your place in the world, set during the Springbok protests of 1981. 

Dennison plays the protagonist of the film, Josh Waaka, while Rolleston plays his older brother Jamie. 

“Jamie and Josh are both Māori and go to a very Pākehā school,” Dennison told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame.  

“So, it’s about Josh finding his Māoridom, also finding himself.” 

While the outdated fashion might be the first difference viewers notice, it’s not the only part of the film that kiwis might find unfamiliar. 

“It was hectic,” Rolleston told Tame. “The things that were happening back then, around the Springbok tour.” 

“Before the film, I just knew that there were some marches that didn’t go too well, that kind of thing. I wasn’t too clued up about it.” 

“They don’t really teach you at school,” Dennison agreed. 

In terms of the characters themselves, Dennison found himself acting from experience. 

“I felt like I could relate to him a bit,” he told Tame. “Going to an all-boys school that was predominantly European.” 

“That thing of being too brown for school, but also being too white for some cliques outside of school.” 

The film is a journey of self-discovery for Josh, not only finding himself beyond where he fits in school, but also within his family and culture. 

Both actors are hoping that this film will be an inspiration for people to find those cultural connections, to connect with their Māoridom in a way they hadn’t previously. 

“I hope people walk out of there going, “Yeah I’m going to start the journey.”” 

“You see the Māori ways come up in the film,” Rolleston said. “Which is good for people to see, especially our young people.”  

“I feel like this film is going to bring up some good conversations,” Dennison told Tame.  

“I think this movie will, you know, cultivate people to talk about this stuff.” 

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