Vietnamese refugees found a love of New Wave music during the 1980s. However, it was not New Wave in the sense of Depeche Mode or The Talking Heads; due to a miscommunication in local markets, Eurodisco became known as “New Wave” to Vietnamese audiences, and they were ready to storm the dance floors. Writer and director Elizabeth Ai was at the heart of the movement; growing up in the 80s and raised by her New Waver aunt, Elizabeth found solace in the breezy synths of the New Wave. New Wave opens with a Vietnamese proverb, “Everyone has ancestors, like every tree has roots, and every river a source.” Through the dancehalls of California, Elizabeth is off to discover those roots.
New Wave is equal parts music documentary and socially conscious narrative. Talking heads range from Elizabeth’s family members to the “Vietnamese Madonna,” Lynda Trang Dai; the documentary highlights the bonds between family, music, and self-discovery. Elizabeth finds herself chasing the story of “Vietnamese American Rebels,” fleeing their wartorn homeland in search of belonging. New Wave chronicles the stories of those who found a community in the discotheque and the infectious grooves of synthpop. While the film carries a broad story of New Wave culture, Elizabeth’s journey of reconnecting with her estranged mother soon takes center stage.
“…those who found a community in the discotheque and the infectious grooves of synthpop…”
Elizabeth Ai has a compelling point-of-view and directorial style. She tells a gripping story of war, family, community, and pop all at once. Each interview conveys the emotional gravity of the New Wave in the Vietnamese community and the bliss of discovering new music. It carries a sense of excitement, like being in the epicenter of a brand-new musical movement. DJ “BPM,” an original New Wave DJ, gives the live context to the early days in the dance clubs while the soundtrack pumps energy throughout the film. Edits are smooth and organic as Elizabeth transitions from dance beats to family and back, keeping the moving without losing the narrative.
The sleek synth soundtrack radiates throughout New Wave. Even as the story shifts from music doc to Elizabeth’s story, the music ties each arc together, making the story feel like a larger tapestry of experiences. While the documentary focuses on just a few individuals, the context of a greater movement allows New Wave to shine, making it an even more nuanced film. There are moments when the narrative seems to find a climax or even begins a falling action but reeves up again, making the 3rd act seem like a collage of endings. Yet, when the film concludes, it’s a cathartic experience, reflecting on the beauty of music and how it shapes up. Elizabeth Ai has created an intensely introspective film set to the “dreamy sounds of the New Wave.”
In the United States, Vietnam is usually studied or seen through the lens of the Vietnam War. But Elizabeth Ai takes Vietnam beyond the war, allowing audiences to glimpse the artful blending of Vietnamese culture with the eclectic sounds of the New Wave. Even the most knowledgeable New Wave and Eurodance aficionados will find plenty of tracks to add to their record collections. The third act can get a little messy, as life and parents can be; finding our roots or “the river’s source” rarely aligns with a perfect filming schedule. New Wave is a cool, endearing documentary worthy of its festival accolades.
"…a cool, endearing documentary"
