Sunday, September 21, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Vidiots, Los Angeles
**Producers**: Elizabeth Ai, Rachel Sine Filmmakers in person! 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. *“NEW WAVE is a stunning film that captures, with incredible nuance, poignancy, and a fair share of razor-sharp wit, a community of first-generation Vietnamese American youth in the 1980s who found solidarity through a shared love of Euro-synth dance music and punk/goth aesthetics. Beneath the music, however, lies a deeper story of intergenerational trauma, the lasting impact of the Vietnam War, and the resilience and possibility of reinvention.” – Sky Sitney, **Co-Founder/Director, DC/DOX * **The Popcorn List** is an annual survey of acclaimed feature films recommended by film festival programmers across North America – that are not yet available in wide release. The series supports indie filmmakers by bringing a selection of these movies to audiences across the country, in person in 10 cities only, including right here at Vidiots, and online September 25-30. Learn more at [thepopcornlist.com](http://thepopcornlist.com/).