The acclaimed Chinese mainland film "Dear You," which hit cinemas across the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on June 18, has won over audiences with its evocative storytelling and historical resonance.
"Dear You," a low-budget film shot largely in the Chaoshan (Teochew) dialect, has become one of China's most unexpected box-office successes this year.
The story follows a debt-ridden young man who travels from the Chaoshan region in south China, one of the major origins of the Nanyang migration, to Thailand in search of his grandfather and uncovers a family secret linked to "qiaopi," letters and remittances sent home by overseas Chinese.
Many viewers were moved to tears by the film's heartfelt story, which struck a deep chord of national pride among Hong Kong audiences.
"What struck me most was how the film captured the loyalty and integrity so deeply rooted in Chinese culture. The letters that cross oceans and span half a century may seem like love letters, but they are really about the older generation of overseas Chinese who struggled abroad while always staying connected to their homeland," said Fiona Cheung Sum-yu, founding president of the Federation of Hong Kong Jiangsu Women Organizations.
"A letter, to me, is more than just a piece of paper — it carries trust and a sense of entrustment," said Vincent Ho Wai-fung, member of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council.
Hit film "Dear You" wins Hong Kong audiences with poignant storytelling
