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TRIBECA 2024
NEW WAVE
Directed by ELIZABETH AI
SYNOPSIS
Filmmaker Elizabeth Ai embarks on a personal heartfelt jounrey to tell a story of joy and youthful defiance as she explores a musical phenomenon in the 1980s known to Vietnamese American teens as “new wave.” From the fashion to the music to dance clubs to the popularity of music videos, she goes into the lives of family members and icons of this specific “new wave scene” while uncovering so much more than a passing fashion and music trend. In the heart of Orange County, California, this counterculture movement takes the youth by storm, becoming a sanctuary for rebellious teens. The fun and vibrant Euro-synth dance beats and punk/goth aesthetics mask deep traumas—broken dreams and unfulfilled expectations that have shaped her community.
The joyful memories of her uncles and aunts sneaking out to this underground scene clash with her own painful childhood, while she is haunted by her mother's abandonment. As the filmmaker digs deeper, NEW WAVE becomes an emotional journey, unraveling mysteries that touch on cultural identity, generational trauma, and the lasting impact of the Vietnam War. The exploration transforms from a love letter to her community into a cathartic process for the filmmaker and her participants. By confronting these buried emotions, the film takes us on a soulful journey that binds wounds, celebrates resilience, and offers new beginnings.
Screenings at Tribeca Film
Saturday, June 8 at 5:30 PM - WORLD PREMIERE
SVA THEATRE (333 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10011)
Sunday, June 9 at 6:00 PM - 2nd Screening
AMC 19th Street East 6 (890 Broadway, New York, NY 10003)
Saturday, June 15 at 2:45 PM - 3rd Screening
Village East By Angelika (181-189 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003)
**All screenings will include Q&A with filmmakers.
https://tribecafilm.com/films/new-wave-2024
Credits
Director: Elizabeth Ai
Producer: Elizabeth Ai, Rachel Sine
Screenwriter: Elizabeth Ai
Cinematographer: Bryant Swanstrom
Composer: Greg Bernall & Chris Upton
Editor: Hee-Jae Park, Samuel Rong, Christina Sun Kim
Executive Producer: Simu Liu, Diane Quon, Geeta Gandbhir, Robina Riccitiello, C. Y. Lee
Associate Producer: Mena Dolinh
Co-Producer: So Yun Um, Betty Hang
Consulting Producer: Hannah Bernall
Cast: Lynda Trang Dai, Ian Nguyen, Elizabeth Ai
Official Website
https://elizabethai.com/new-wave
