New Wave

Play trailer

New Wave

Released Oct 4, 2024

1h 28m

Documentary

History

Music

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

11 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Mile-high hair. Synthesized music. Underground parties. Elizabeth Ai was on a mission to excavate an untold story of rebellious punks in the chaotic world of 80s Vietnamese new wave until she rediscovered a hidden past.

Ryan Lattanzio

IndieWire

“New Wave” is piercing in its unveiling of the cycle of blame that came out of the Vietnam War.

Rated: B

Oct 26, 2024

Full Review

Dave Giannini

InSession Film

New Wave manages to find a middle ground allowing us all our faults and a real chance at reconciliation.

Rated: B+

Sep 19, 2025

Full Review

Alan French

Sunshine State Cineplex

With wall-to-wall music pumping through the movie, it’s easy to fall into the vibe. The beats, bells, and sounds create a beautiful soundscape for New Wave.

Rated: 8/10

Sep 8, 2025

Full Review

Calvin Law

The Asian Cut

Ai crafts a moving, deeply personal story not just of her own experience with Vietnam’s New Wave and being a Vietnamese diaspora child, but integrating the experiences of others.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jul 31, 2025

Full Review

Tim Tran

Willamette Week

A must-see cultural archive, come with tissues in tow for this certified tearjerker.

Jun 11, 2025

Full Review

Josiah Teal

Film Threat

New Wave is a cool, endearing documentary worthy of its festival accolades.

Rated: 8/10

Mar 17, 2025

Full Review

Read all reviews

JL W

I hope this movie becomes widely available. It is excellent, so beautifully made. It has everything-- humor, wit, and deep emotion. It is historical and personal, about so many human and cultural experiences. Love, longing, loss, creativity, survival, community, and a kind of enlightenment/freedom. Highest recommendation .

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/12/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Elizabeth Ai

Director

Elizabeth Ai

Actor

Elizabeth Ai

Writer

Elizabeth Ai

Producer

Rachel Sine

Producer

Geeta Gandbhir

Executive Producer

Omoiyari: A Song Film by Kishi Bashi

100%

94%

Omoiyari: A Song Film by Kishi Bashi

Watchlist

The Greatest Night in Pop

98%

89%

The Greatest Night in Pop

Watchlist

Soundtrack to a Coup d'État

97%

97%

Soundtrack to a Coup d'État

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Soundtrack to a Coup d'État

Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley

75%

89%

Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley

Watchlist

Endless Calls for Fame

%

%

Endless Calls for Fame

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Endless Calls for Fame

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Mile-high hair. Synthesized music. Underground parties. Elizabeth Ai was on a mission to excavate an untold story of rebellious punks in the chaotic world of 80s Vietnamese new wave until she rediscovered a hidden past.

Director: Elizabeth Ai
Producer: Elizabeth Ai, Rachel Sine
Screenwriter: Elizabeth Ai, Elizabeth Ai
Distributor: Cinereach
Production Co: New Wave Productions
Genre: Documentary, History, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 4, 2024, Limited
Runtime: 1h 28m