New Wave

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New Wave

2024,

1h 28m,

Documentary/

History/

Music

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Watchlist

100%

12 Reviews

Tomatometer

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Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

12 Reviews

Popcornmeter

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

Oct 26, 2024

B

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

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Jaylan Salah

Geek Vibes Nation

Aug 3, 2026

7/10

New Wave is a documentary about Vietnamese families and refugees, existing on the fringes of society but also an integral part of it.

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Dave Giannini

InSession Film

Sep 19, 2025

B+

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

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Alan French

Sunshine State Cineplex

Sep 8, 2025

8/10

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.

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Calvin Law

The Asian Cut

Jul 31, 2025

3.5/5

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.

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Tim Tran

Willamette Week

Jun 11, 2025

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

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Elizabeth Ai

Director

Elizabeth Ai

Screenwriter

Elizabeth Ai

Producer

Rachel Sine

Producer

Simu Liu

Executive Producer

Diane Moy Quon

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
Production Co: New Wave Productions
Genre: Documentary, History, Music
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 28m

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