New Wave Documentary by Elizabeth Ai, Q+A at Tribeca Film Festival June 15, 2024

It’s a late evening in 2019. Elizabeth Ai, a Vietnamese American filmmaker, exuberantly hangs out with friends outside of a nightclub. As Elizabeth enters with her cohort, her soft-spoken narration reveals her current purpose: “I just had a baby six months ago - and there I was, at a club…chasing a story.” This is the onset of Elizabeth’s feisty exploration into her Vietnamese music culture - specifically, her examination of “new wave” - the popular 80’s musical phenomenon that featured Vietnamese artists/singers with big hairstyles, defiant attitudes and joyful, infectious vibes. Elizabeth was swept up by the vivacious “new wave” throughout her childhood, while being raised by her aunt Myra amidst a strained relationship with her mother. Now as a new mother, Elizabeth links up with “new wave” stalwarts like singer Lynda Trang Đài and Ian “DJ BPM” Nguyen to further reflect on the nostalgia & kitsch of “new wave” - from the boisterous apex of this phenomenon to its struggles when idiosyncratic artists sought inclusion in the wider American pop culture scene.
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Amazing film !!! I loved the rhythm of the filming..editing etc this story reaches many cultures , everyone can relate on some levels.. its fascinating ..we fell in love with 'Linda' too ! Congrats on such a beautiful film.. PBS etc must show this !