The Chinese independent film Dear You is making an unexpected international breakthrough, taking a deeply local story about family, migration and memory from the coastal region of Chaoshan to cinemas and film audiences around the world.
Directed by Shantou-born filmmaker Lan Hongchun, the two-hour drama is filmed largely in the Teochew dialect and features mostly first-time actors. Much of the story was shot in Chaoshan, in eastern Guangdong, as well as in Bangkok.
The film was screened at the M9 Museum in Mestre on Sept 8 as part of a Chinese-language film showcase held alongside the 83rd Venice Film Festival.
At the heart of Dear You is the tradition of qiaopi, handwritten letters and remittances sent by overseas Chinese migrants to their families back home. The practice, which dates back centuries, provides the film with a window into the sacrifices and emotional connections that shaped generations of Chinese families across Asia.
The story follows Shurou, a mother of three living in Chaozhou, whose husband Musheng travels to Bangkok in search of work. Unable to read or write, Musheng relies on Nanzhi, the daughter of an innkeeper in Bangkok, to help him compose letters and send money home.
The correspondence becomes a vital link between husband and wife, carrying not only financial support but also affection, hope and the realities of life separated by distance.
The film’s story is rooted in the migration of people from Chaoshan to Southeast Asia during the 1950s. Known historically as going to Nanyang, the movement saw generations of Chinese migrants travel south in search of work and opportunity.
Dear You has found a remarkably large audience despite its modest production. The film has earned more than 2 billion yuan, or nearly US$300 million, at the Chinese box office and has been released in markets including Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia and Singapore.
Its international rollout has now expanded to North America, where it is playing on more than 160 screens across Los Angeles, New York, Toronto and Vancouver. Releases are also planned in the UK, France, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand.
Much of the film’s appeal comes from its intimate approach. Rather than relying on major stars or elaborate production, Dear You uses regional language, familiar landscapes and everyday details to tell a story about people separated by migration.
Researchers and cultural observers have also pointed to the emotional relevance of the film’s central theme. In an age of instant digital communication, the slow process of writing and waiting for a letter creates a different kind of emotional experience, giving audiences time to reflect on absence, longing and connection.
The film also offers a broader perspective on Chinese-language cinema by presenting a regional story rather than a single, uniform idea of Chinese identity. Its focus on Chaoshan culture and the Chinese communities of Southeast Asia highlights the diversity of experiences within the wider Chinese-speaking world.
Its journey from a relatively small production in southern China to Venice, North America and other international markets illustrates how highly specific stories can connect with audiences far beyond their original setting.
For Dear You, the global response has turned a story about letters sent across oceans into a much larger conversation about migration, family and the memories passed between generations.
Leave a Reply