CHICAGO (WLS) — In recognition of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, ABC7 Chicago hosted a screening of a documentary for local audiences this week.
It’s called “New Wave.” The film shines a light on the 1980s music scene that became a refuge for many Vietnamese Americans.
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It’s a window into a moment when big beats and even bigger hair forged a brilliant subculture that, for some Asian Americans, defined their youth.
“We were rebellious. We were punks. We got into trouble, and we figured out how to create our own music and establish our own scene,” said Elizabeth Ai, the director of “New Wave.”
“New Wave” chronicles the Vietnamese American obsession with New Wave music in 1980s Southern California.
Those synth-pop rhythms were rooted in two worlds.
“They sang in both English and Vietnamese. At home, we weren’t Vietnamese enough, and in our schools, we weren’t sufficiently white American. Discovering this unique third space where they could connect with friends and forge a distinct identity was truly meaningful,” Ai explained.
The film follows the lives of Vietnamese American New Wave pop stars and their fans, many of whom fled Vietnam with their families after the fall of Saigon.
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In an age of cassette tapes, VHS and Aqua Net, New Wave culture was a refuge.
“It was a safe space for them,” Ai said.
But the film is about more than music and memories.
Ai, through her own experience, takes a critical look at the generational impact of unresolved trauma: a topic too often ignored in the AAPI community.
“There’s another layer to this, which is the vulnerabilities in our communities, to be able to discuss them openly and to share these histories,” Ai said.
On Wednesday night, “New Wave” was screened for a Chicago audience at the Gene Siskel Film Center’s Asian American Showcase.
“We grew up with uncles and cousins who also listened to that type of music; so, it was really nostalgic for me,” Tammy Pepito said.
“New Wave” has won multiple film festival awards, and is looking for distribution.
Visit instagram.com/newwavedocumentary for information about screenings.
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