“An audiovisual letter to hometowns and overseas compatriots.”
On May 22, the Chinese state media outlet Global Times described the film 'Dear You' (original title: 給阿嬤的情書) as a recent box office sensation. Set in the Chao Shan region of Guangdong Province, which is home to many overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia, the film tells the story of Chinese immigrants who left for Southeast Asia in search of a better life and the families who awaited their return.
The film follows Ye Su-lou, a grandmother living a quiet life in Chao Shan. Her husband, Zheng Wu-sheng, left for Southeast Asia long ago to earn money but has not returned, leaving only rumors of his success. Meanwhile, her grandson, Xiao Wei, burdened by debt, secretly travels to Thailand in search of the grandfather he has only heard about in stories.
However, the truth he uncovers is unexpected. Zheng Wu-sheng has been deceased for many years, and the person who has been sending letters and money to Ye Su-lou for the past two decades is actually a friend of her late husband, Xie Nan-zi. The film delicately unravels themes of love, sacrifice, and the passage of time that have been hidden for over half a century.
At the heart of the film is 'Chao Pi' (僑批), letters sent by overseas Chinese along with their remittances to family back home. In an era when communication was challenging, Chao Pi served not only as a means of sending money but also as the only link to families thousands of kilometers away. Today, Chao Pi is recognized as a UNESCO Memory of the World Register.
The Global Times noted, “A single Chao Pi sent by overseas Chinese is not just a letter but a piece of Chinese history.” It added, “During times of turmoil and poverty, many residents of the Chao Shan region relied on remittances from overseas Chinese for their livelihoods,” emphasizing that the film captures the collective memory of the overseas Chinese community beyond individual stories.
Initially, the film did not attract much attention. Released on April 30, just before the Labor Day holiday, it had a modest production budget of 14 million yuan (approximately $2.7 million) and earned only 3.77 million yuan on its opening day, with screenings limited primarily to the Chao Shan region.
However, word of mouth during the Labor Day holiday changed its fortunes. As of May 21, the film's cumulative box office surpassed 760 million yuan (approximately $170 million), with projections from Chinese film ticketing platform Maoyan estimating final earnings to exceed 1.6 billion yuan. The film has received a rating of 9.1 on the review site Douban, making it the highest-rated Chinese film released this year.
Critics attribute the film's success to its authenticity and realism. The main characters, Ye Su-lou and Xie Nan-zi, are portrayed by amateur actors without formal training. Their understated performances, delivered in the Chao Shan dialect, resonate deeply with audiences, leading some viewers to comment, “It feels like I’m watching my own grandparents.”
Director Lan Hunchun reportedly spent nearly a decade refining the script, visiting numerous overseas Chinese families to gather real-life stories related to Chao Pi, which he incorporated into the film's narrative.
Interestingly, the film has also found resonance in Taiwan. The Chao Shan dialect shares similarities with the Minnan language spoken in Taiwan. The term 'Amo' (阿嬷), which means 'grandmother,' is widely used in Taiwan as well.
During a recent briefing, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, remarked, “The Chao Shan region and Taiwan share many linguistic and cultural similarities,” adding that Taiwanese audiences deeply empathized with the film's themes of loyalty, familial love, and patriotism expressed in the Chao Shan dialect. He further noted, “The term 'Amo' symbolizes the common roots and origins of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait,” highlighting that the positive response from Taiwanese viewers reflects the shared cultural heritage and emotional connection between the two regions.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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