Stompbox: NEW WAVE – 1980s Vietnamese synth rebellion doc with Director Q&A! Toronto Premiere!

Toronto Premiere with director Elizabeth Ai in attendance for a Q&A! 

Mile-high hair. Synthesized sounds. Teenage rebellion. Filmmaker Elizabeth Ai embarks on a project to tell a story of joy and youthful defiance as she explores a musical phenomenon that electrified kids in the chaotic 1980s, a genre known to Vietnamese American teens as New Wave. What begins as an exploration of the rebellion and freedom within this subculture evolves into a profound narrative of identity, loss, and healing. 

As Elizabeth delves into the lives of her family members and icons of the New Wave scene, she discovers that beneath the surface lies a complex tapestry of broken dreams and unfulfilled expectations. The synth beats and punk/goth aesthetics provided a sanctuary for a generation of youth grappling with the weight of their parents’ unspoken traumas and the lingering shadows of the Vietnam War.

The film juxtaposes the memories of her uncles and aunts—sneaking out to underground clubs—with Elizabeth’s own childhood, marked by her mother’s abandonment. As the filmmaker confronts the generational wounds that have shaped her community, the film becomes a powerful exploration of cultural identity, resilience, and new beginnings. (Elizabeth Ai)

“My favorite Tribeca music documentary was a homespun affair: Elizabeth Ai’s ‘New Wave,’ a soft scream of a film about ’80s Vietnamese diaspora culture and style.” —Natalia Winkelman, New York Times

ABOUT STOMPBOX:

Stompbox is a music-on-film event, screening and performance series active since 2016, curated by David Bertrand.

Part of the Stompbox series!

Cast/Crew Info
Director: Elizabeth Ai | Cast: Ian Nguyen, Lynda Trang Dai, Elizabeth Ai, Myra Wu