Full Breakdown
Chinese Indie Film “Dear You” Becomes Box Office Hit Amid Soft-Power Debate
6/18/2026, 9:24:16 PM
Box Office Triumph and Production Profile
Dear You, directed by Lan Hongchun, opened in China on 30 April 2026 with a 14 million-yuan budget. It has earned over 1.7 billion yuan (?US$252 million), topping the box office for five weeks. The film stars Li Sitong and Wang Yantong and is shot in the Teochew dialect.
Plot and Historical Context
The story follows Hiau-ui, a Teochew youth who travels to Bangkok to locate his grandfather Ten Baksheng, who fled China in the 1940s to avoid Kuomintang draft. He learns the patriarch died decades earlier; qiaopi letters and remittance records depict Chinese migration, hardship, and a 50-year-old love story.
Research-Driven Authenticity and Casting
Lan Hongchun’s team visited about 300 families and interviewed elders. Casting used talent—Li Sitong was selected, Wang Yantong was unemployed, and 84-year-old Wu Shaoqing drew on her migration memories. Usha Seamkhum appears in a cameo.
Official Responses from State Media and Distributors
State media defended Dear You against accusations of propaganda, emphasizing its focus on history and cultural heritage over politics. Lim Teck called the picture a “dark-horse” that moved him deeply and highlighted its role in showcasing Teochew culture. Golden Village Pictures noted the modest budget and word-of-mouth success.
Soft-Power Critique and Propaganda Debate
Critics view the film as a soft-power tool. Sim Tze Wei of Singapore’s Lianhe Zaobao called Dear You a masterclass in “non-coercive” united-front propaganda designed to foster closeness to China. A Singapore-based Chinese-language outlet labeled it “psychological warfare” that could erode Chinese Singaporeans’ identity, reflecting anxieties.
Conflicting Interpretations & Gaps
Reports diverge: Chinese outlets present Dear You as a family-centric cultural work, while some Singaporean media portray it as a political instrument. No concrete evidence of propaganda funding has been offered, and independent audience analysis is limited, leaving the film’s impact uncertain.
Upcoming Screenings & International Rollout
Dear You opens in Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei on 18 June, with eight sold-out Teochew screenings at GVmax and GV VivoCity. The film will later roll out to ten territories, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Japan and South Korea, extending its reach beyond Chinese markets.
Verbatim Quotes
> “Decades ago, it could take one or two months to receive a letter. During this long wait, the intensity of one’s emotions would accumulate and grow stronger. That is why writing and sending letters back then can evoke deep emotions that we might not be able to experience today (when we text).” — Lan Hongchun, Director
> “Letters are short, but the emotion behind them is plentiful.” — Lan Hongchun, Director
> “Although our communication methods have changed, the emotions between people have remained the same. That is why (the film) can still move us and touch our hearts in the modern era.” — Li, 22, Audience Member, Lianhe Zaobao
> “We did not follow the script most of the time. On set, the actors and director would discuss on the spot how the scene would go . We would set a general direction and then improvise.” — Wang Yantong, Lead Actor
