SIFF DocFest: New Wave
October 8, 2024
Mile-high hair. Synthesized music. Underground parties. Elizabeth Ai’s lively first feature delves into the rebellious 80s Vietnamese new wave music scene, blending nostalgia with a deeply personal re-examination of her community's hidden and unexamined past.
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Tuesday, October 8, 2024
In 2019, filmmaker Elizabeth Ai embarks on a project to tell a story of the joy and youthful defiance of the 1980s "New Wave" phenomenon that captivated Orange County’s Vietnamese American teens. As she delves into the lives of family members and icons of the New Wave scene, she uncovers much more than just music and fashion. What begins as a joyful dive into big hairstyles, Euro-synth beats, and the defiant attitudes of this cultural movement, quickly evolves into something deeper and more personal. As Elizabeth reconnects with her New Wave idols, she uncovers the complex layers beneath the neon lights—a world where this counterculture provided a sanctuary for rebellious teens. The fun Euro-synth dance beats and punk/goth aesthetics hiding unfulfilled dreams and expectations in their community. The film becomes a personal journey for Elizabeth, intertwining with her memories of her own painful past, marked by her mother's abandonment and the struggles of growing up in a divided community. Through intimate interviews and rich archival footage, New Wave transforms from a celebration of youthful rebellion into a cathartic exploration of cultural identity, generational trauma, and the lasting impact of the Vietnam War. Elizabeth Ai’s debut feature is both a love letter to a resilient community and a poignant tale of healing and self-discovery.
- Director: Elizabeth Ai
- Principal Cast: Lynda Trang Đài, Ian Nguyen, Elizabeth Ai
- Country: USA
- Year: 2024
- Running Time: 94 min.
- Producer: Elizabeth Ai, Rachel Sine
- Cinematographers: Bryant Swanstrom
- Editors: Hee-Jae Park, Samuel Rong, Nancy Nguyen, Christina Sun Kim
- Music: Greg Bernall, Chris Upton
- Website: Official Film Website
- Awards: Tribeca Film Festival 2024 (Special Mention, Best New Documentary Director)
- Filmography: Debut Feature Film
- Language: English, Vietnamese
- Format: DCP
- International Sales: The Film Collaborative