FILM
NEW WAVE: A FEATURE DOCUMENTARY BY ELIZABETH AI (OKLAHOMA PREMIERE)
Saturday, December 6, 2025
6:00 PM | Film Program | Circle Cinema, 10 S Lewis Ave.
8:00 PM | After Party | Heirloom Rustic Ales, 2113 E Admiral Blvd
Travel back to the 1980s with us, but make it Việt. New Wave (2024), directed by Elizabeth Ai, 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 nhậu, you nhậu.
Presented by NAM common. This one is for our parents, uncles, aunties, big brothers, and big sisters—bố 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 THE DIRECTOR
Elizabeth Ai is a Chinese-Vietnamese-American Los Angeles based Emmy award-winning storyteller. She writes and produces independent feature films as well as branded content for companies such as National Geographic, ESPN, and VICE. She produced documentary features: Dirty Hands: The Art & Crimes of David Choe (2008), on the titled artist after his prison release and before his meteoric rise; and A Woman’s Work: The NFL’S Cheerleader Problem (2019), which examines wage theft and exploitation of the only visible women in the NFL; and feature narratives, Saigon Electric (2011), set in the thriving underground world of breakdancing and hip hop in Vietnam; and BA (2024) about a single father caught in a line of essential work struggling to reunite with his daughter. During her tenure at VICE, she created the original series pilot for cannabis cooking show, Bong Appétit (2014), which got picked up for series on Viceland. She’s currently in production with her directorial debut, New Wave, a feature documentary about a 1980s music scene pioneered by Vietnamese American teens. She’s a fellow of Berlinale Talents, Center for Asian American Media, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Film Independent, Firelight Media, Sundance Institute, and Women in Film. Her films are supported by California Humanities, Cinereach, Firelight Media, Independent Television Service, Knight Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, and Sundance Institute.
NAM common explores Vietnamese 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.
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.
VISITOR EXPERIENCE
Circle Cinema is committed to providing a welcoming and accessible experience for all guests. Free parking is available on-site, with wheelchair-accessible entry directly from the parking lot. Our facility is fully ADA-compliant, and assisted viewing and listening devices are available for many film screenings. Assisted viewing and listening options vary by film. For details on accessibility devices available for your next visit, please contact the Circle Cinema Box Office at 918-585-3456.