New Wave

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New Wave

Released Oct 4, 2024

1h 28m

Documentary

History

Music

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7 Reviews

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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

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Josiah Teal

Film Threat

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

Rated: 8/10

Mar 17, 2025

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Marya E. Gates

Cool People Have Feelings, Too. (Substack)

Ai deftly weaves the history of the music, the history of the first-gen young people who made up the scene, and then her own personal connection to it with ease.

Oct 26, 2024

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Avi Offer

NYC Movie Guru

Illuminating and surprisingly moving at times, but conventional and somewhat unfocused.

Oct 3, 2024

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Nathaniel Muir

AIPT

New Wave does lose its way at times, but it also has a personal feel that makes it a consistently entertaining watch. The music and clothes bring a sense of fun, while Ai’s story highlights a sense of family that is endearing.

Jun 12, 2024

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Peter Martin

ScreenAnarchy

New Wave puts its ear right next next to the bass drum, as it were, and discerns, not just the rhythm, but the culture and the people who made it possible.

Jun 9, 2024

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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

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Elizabeth Ai

Director

Elizabeth Ai

Actor

Elizabeth Ai

Writer

Elizabeth Ai

Producer

Rachel Sine

Producer

Geeta Gandbhir

Executive Producer

10 Most Talked About Films of The 2025 Cannes Film Festival

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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