New Wave

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New Wave

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1h 28m

Documentary

History

Music

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9 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.

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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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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

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Tim Tran

Willamette Week

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

Jun 11, 2025

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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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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

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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