May 102 min read

TRIBECA 2024 - NEW WAVE - Directed by ELIZABETH AI - WORLD PREMIERE - Throwback to the 1980s Vietnamese New Wave: A Journey of Generational Trauma and Cultural Identity

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