“New Wave” | A feature documentary by Elizabeth Ai (Oklahoma Premiere)
“New Wave” | A feature documentary by Elizabeth Ai (Oklahoma Premiere)
Travel back to the 1980s with us, but make it Việt. New Wave dives into the memories, style, and spirit of a generation growing up in the aftermath of the Vietnam War—young people navigating a new country, new expectations, and the pressures of starting over. Mixing classic songs, synths, and lyrics in tiếng Việt, the film captures how the birth of a sound, ‘new wave,’ created a vibrant scene of music, fashion, and late-night dance floors that built a sanctuary in a challenging chapter for the Vietnamese diaspora.
Join us afterwards to continue the music at Heirloom Rustic Ales. If you nhâu you nhâu.
Saturday, December 6
6:30 PM | Intro & Film Screening (Circle Cinema)
8:00 PM | After Party (Heirloom Rustic Ales)
FREE SCREENING | RSVP ON EVENTBRITE
Presented by NAM common, a community project to explore the Vietnamese and Asian diaspora through curated art and media programs. This one is for our parents, uncles, aunties, big brothers and sisters–bó mẹ, chú, cô, anh, chị–the first generation of Vietnamese Americans.
Co-presented with Tulsa Film Collective and Tulsa Artist Fellowship.
ABOUT THE FILM:
NEW WAVE (2024, 88m, USA) Writer/Director: Elizabeth Ai. Featuring: Lynda Trang Dai, Ian Nguyen, Elizabeth Ai, Myra Wu, Asa Ai Hendrickson, Lan Tran, Le Ba Chu, and Tony Lam.
Elizabeth Ai’s 2024 Tribeca Film Festival Audience Award–winning film dives into the cultural phenomenon of ‘new wave’ music in the Vietnamese diaspora, blending classic songs and synths with lyrics in tiếng Việt. It follows a community rebuilding their lives in the U.S. and finding a shared space to rebel—the distinct Việt American sound that emerged under the banner of “new wave.” Tracing the music from Europe to L.A., where a record-store mislabel stuck and shaped a rising generation, the film unfolds through interviews with family members and icons of the scene who share more than music and fashion. This 80s and early 90s counterculture swept through the community, offering teens a sanctuary even as the upbeat Euro-synth rhythms and punk aesthetics masked deeper traumas and expectations carried by Vietnamese American families. Ai’s film becomes a soulful journey that binds wounds, celebrates resilience, and offers new beginnings.
ABOUT NAM COMMON:
‘NAM common’, is a community project space exploring Vietnamese and Asian culture, community, and diaspora through art and media curated programs. Established in Tulsa, OK by Việt H. Nguyễn and Nic Annette Miller, the pair collectively join their expertise in art, design, photography, film and community organizing to host events, facilitate discussions, and promote tradition.
ABOUT TULSA FILM COLLECTIVE
Tulsa Film Collective (TFC) is dedicated to nurturing Tulsa's filmmaker community through dynamic community events and skill-enhancing workshops. Founded in 2018, TFC is committed to sharing the love and appreciation of film, strengthening connections, and sustaining the magic of movie-making in Tulsa.
ABOUT TULSA ARTIST FELLOWSHIP
Established in 2015, Tulsa Artist Fellowship was created as a place-based initiative by the George Kaiser Family Foundation (GKFF) that addresses pressing challenges faced by contemporary artists and arts workers living in and joining Tulsa, Oklahoma. Tulsa Artist Fellowship believes the arts are critical to advancing cultural citizenship and supports community-invested practitioners who intentionally engage with our city.
Our exhibitions and events are free, documented, and archived.
VISITOR EXPERIENCE:
Circle Cinema offers free on-site parking and wheelchair-accessible entry directly from the lot. The facility is fully ADA-compliant. Assisted viewing and listening devices are available for many screenings. For accessibility details specific to this event, contact the Circle Cinema Box Office at 918-585-3456 or visit www.circlecinema.org/about-the-circle.
Event Links
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/3350598-0
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/3350598-2
