How a Chinese film shot in dialect is finding a global audience

A Chinese film shot in Teochew dialect has gained popularity in China and is now set to reach a global audience. "Dear You" was filmed almost entirely in a southern Chinese dialect that most Chinese viewers require subtitles to comprehend. Shot in the Teochew community in Bangkok, the film depicts the history of Chinese migration to Southeast Asia, specifically focusing on the experiences of those who left for work.

Despite its low budget and cast of relatively unknown actors, "Dear You" has become China's second-highest-grossing film of the year, grossing about 269 million yuan ($40 million) at the Chinese box office. The movie was released in Thailand in early August after screenings in Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia, and will be shown in the U.S. next month.

As Chinese culture and consumer brands gain global recognition, China is leveraging soft power through cultural exports, with the government promoting the film to align with its goal of "telling China's stories well." The film's popularity has been particularly strong among Malaysian and Singaporean Chinese audiences, as it highlights a history rarely shown in mainstream films.

The story revolves around a young man searching for his grandfather, Deng Musheng, in Bangkok, using an address from a remittance letter sent by his grandfather, in hopes of getting a loan to repay his debts.