Rhythms That Defined a Generation

Read Time:3 Minute, 48 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
New Wave
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Genre: Documentary
Year Released: 2024
Runtime: 1h 28m
Director(s): Elizabeth Ai
Where To Watch: shown at DC/DOX 2024 on June 15, 2024

RAVING REVIEW: Elizabeth Ai's NEW WAVE rides the rhythmic waves of the 80s Vietnamese-American music scene, bringing much more than nostalgia to the screen. This documentary captures a community's struggle to forge an identity partially through music during a pivotal decade of cultural transformation. Ai serves up a narrative deeply rooted in personal stories and enriched with a wide lens on social impacts, showing us that the era's music was not just a soundtrack but a lifeline during intense cultural change.

The driving force behind NEW WAVE is Ai's quest to connect her daughter with their heritage—a legacy of resilience and identity shaped by their community's past. Through intimate interviews, the film traces the evolution of Vietnamese-American music, elevating it from a genre to a cornerstone of identity for its listeners. Key figures such as Lynda Trang Đài, known as the "Vietnamese Madonna," anchor the narrative. She shows the journey of these artists' significant influence in bridging the old and the new, connecting the past to a vibrant present.

NEW WAVE excels in its seamless blend of traditional Vietnamese heritage and Western electronic influences, crafting a soundscape that resonates with its audience. This blend of sounds is a vivid metaphor for the documentary's broader narrative—survival through adaptation and creating a new, blended cultural identity. Although this musical style got lumped into the “new wave” movement in the US because of its similar sound, it was known to the rest of the world as Euro disco for its unique subculture of Vietnamese refugees who left Vietnam during or after the war.

However, the documentary is not just a musical journey. It tackles the intricate dynamics of generational conflict, where traditional immigrant values often clash with the expressive desires of their American-born children. Set against a backdrop of historical upheavals and the struggle to establish new lives in a new and, at times, unwelcoming land, NEW WAVE offers a nuanced exploration of the identity crises faced by Vietnamese immigrants.

Moreover, NEW WAVE delves into the social and psychological aspects of music as a form of resistance and identity formation among the youth. Ai meticulously documents how the Vietnamese-American youth used music as a tool to carve out a space for themselves in a society that often felt alienating. The documentary showcases various artists and enthusiasts who found solace and expression in the genre, using it as a platform to voice their hopes, frustrations, and aspirations. This exploration adds depth to the film, illustrating how music functions as a cultural stronghold for marginalized communities, guiding them through integration and identity preservation challenges. By focusing on these personal stories, Ai brings to light music's emotional and cultural significance in shaping individual and collective identities.

NEW WAVE triumphs as a profound celebration of music's healing and unifying power. Beyond a mere look at the genre's history, it is a vibrant testament to a community's ability to harmonize and triumph over adversity. As Ai delves deeper into these rich themes, her documentary commemorates a pivotal movement in music history and underscores the transformative power of art across generations.

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