New Wave: Film & Book Signing with Elizabeth Ai

This event is a screening of the doctumenary film NEW WAVE, followed by a Q&A with director Elizabeth Ai. Ai will also be available to sign copies of well the book she wrote that accompanies the film. Books will be available for purchase in person.

Mile-high hair. Synthesized sounds. Teenage rebellion. 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 uncovers a hidden past.

Filmmaker Elizabeth Ai embarks on a journey to capture the vibrant spirit of a musical phenomenon that electrified Vietnamese American teens in the 1980s: 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. In Orange County, California, the synth beats and punk/goth aesthetics provided a sanctuary for a generation of youth grappling with the weight of their parents' unspoken traumas.

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. These were not just fleeting moments of teenage rebellion but acts of defiance against the lingering shadows of the Vietnam War and the sacrifices made by a generation trying to rebuild.

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. What starts as a celebration of a cultural movement transforms into a cathartic journey. As the filmmaker unravels long-buried emotions and confronts the generational wounds that have shaped her community, the film becomes a powerful exploration of cultural identity, resilience, and new beginnings.

This event is FREE for PRS MEMBERS. You must RSVP to reserve a space, on a first come first served basis. If you’re not a member, please consider joining to help PRS keep presenting wonderful cultural programs like this!

Bio:

ELIZABETH AI - Director, Writer, Producer, p.g.a.

Elizabeth Ai is a Chinese Vietnamese American award-winning storyteller and filmmaker. Her directorial debut, NEW WAVE, a hybrid feature documentary, premiered in competition at the 2024 Tribeca Festival was awarded a Special Jury Mention for Best New Documentary Director, with the jury praising her powerful and emotionally honest storytelling. The New York Times selected New Wave as a critics' pick, with the author calling it, “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.” Vogue commended the film for revealing a subculture little known to outsiders, stating it "soars in its glimpses of the past," while Indiewire described it as, “a love letter to her community and how its consumption of pop culture shaped defiant attitudes that still resonate today.”

Ai writes and produces independent feature films and branded content for companies like ESPN, VICE, and National Geographic Channels for which she won an Emmy Award. She produced documentary features (2008), and (2019). Her narrative features include (2011) and (2024). While at VICE, Elizabeth created the original pilot for the cannabis cooking show BONG APPÉTIT (2014), which was later picked up by Viceland. She’s an alumnus of Berlinale, Center for Asian American Media, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Film Independent, Firelight Media, Sundance, and Tribeca. Her work is supported by Adobe, California Humanities, Cinereach, Ford Foundation, Independent Television Service, Knight Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, and Sundance.

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