Key facts
- The indie film "Dear You" has achieved significant popularity in China.
- The movie explores themes of Chinese migration and the preservation of heritage.
- It depicts an elderly schoolmaster risking arrest in 1950s Bangkok to teach Chinese language to diaspora children.
- The film has grossed over 1.6 billion yuan (US$236 million) in China since its April 30 release.
- The film has prompted discussions in Southeast Asia about China's soft power and influence.
The Chinese indie film "Dear You" has rapidly become a major box office success in China, drawing audiences with its narrative about family history and Chinese migration to Southeast Asia. Shot in the Teochew language, the movie traces a man's journey to uncover his grandfather's past through remittance letters sent from Thailand, highlighting the diaspora's efforts to maintain their cultural heritage. A notable scene depicts a teacher in 1950s Bangkok risking arrest to secretly teach Chinese language to local children.
Since its release on April 30, "Dear You" has grossed over 1.6 billion yuan (US$236 million) in China. However, its success has also ignited a debate across Southeast Asia concerning China's soft power and its political influence over ethnic Chinese communities in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. The film's themes resonate differently across these nations, depending on the integration of Chinese communities into wider societies. In the contemporary era, Beijing has increasingly blurred the distinction between Chinese citizens living abroad and foreign nationals of Chinese descent.