Chinese blockbuster "Dear You", a family drama rooted in the history of Chinese migration to Southeast Asia, has found a receptive audience in Los Angeles of the United States, where viewers said its story of love, sacrifice and longing for home transcends boundaries.
Written and directed by Lan Hongchun and filmed largely in the Teochew dialect, the movie follows a young man traveling to Thailand in search of the grandfather whom his family believes abandoned them. His search unravels a family story spanning decades, linked by "qiaopi" -- letters and remittances sent home by Chinese emigrants.
The film has also been released in global markets including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Britain, Australia and North America.
As of Sunday, it had grossed 304 million U.S. dollars worldwide, including 291 million U.S. dollars in the Chinese mainland and 674,000 U.S. dollars in North America, according to the latest data from Chinese ticketing platform Maoyan.
"I really enjoyed the film. I wanted to come and see it to understand better some things about Chinese culture and the history around it. It's a family story about relationships and love and dedication. And, you know, that transcends any national boundaries. I'm just really glad I saw it. And yes, I think that anybody should've watched that and enjoy it," said moviegoer Mike Hamler.
For Chinese Americans, the film offered not only a window into the history of migration, but also rekindled family memories. Its portrayal of letters and parcels sent home from Southeast Asia evoked traditions some audiences had encountered in their own families.
"I was touched while watching the movie because it shows salted pork sent from Thailand to the native home. That was a tradition in my family, too. My father told me that when he was a child, he received salted pork sent by relatives in Thailand. My parents also saw the film, and both of them were deeply moved," said moviegoer Zhang Ling.
Beyond its family mystery, the film uses "qiaopi" to show how money, news and affection crossed borders, sustaining ties between overseas Chinese communities and their families in China.
"The film also strongly impressed me with the portrayal of how united overseas Chinese are. What has not changed, I think, is the longing for one's native home, family and motherland," said moviegoer Sun Tianze.
Acclaimed Chinese film "Dear You" strikes chord in Los Angeles
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and China have implemented 39 South-South cooperation projects since 2011, benefiting nearly 20 million people across 26 countries, the UNDP China office said at an event marking the UN Day for South-South Cooperation.
The progress was released on Saturday in Hangzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, at a seminar attended by about 100 representatives from government agencies, academia and private sector. Participants discussed new pathways for sustainable development under the principle of "leaving no one behind."
Supported by Chinese funding, including the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, the projects have helped rebuild homes and schools in climate-disaster-hit areas, helped children return to school, provided vocational training in multiple countries, offered targeted assistance to poor families, and promoted green technology for sustainable development in the Global South.
"Through cooperation, countries can collectively respond to global challenges that no one country can navigate alone. Notably, this spirit of cooperation has been reflected in China's increasing international development engagements. UNDP is proud to be a partner on this journey, working with China to advance international development cooperation that builds a more sustainable future while benefiting the most vulnerable," said Stefan Liller, UNDP's Resident Representative in China, in his address.
Participants at the seminar noted that cooperation with China focuses on concrete practice rather than abstract theories or concepts. They said China's rich experience and expertise in poverty reduction, industrial upgrading and digital transformation are increasingly being shared internationally through various forms of cooperation.
Addressing digital divide and other new challenges, participants called for ensuring that artificial intelligence and digital transformation create opportunities for all, rather than exacerbating or breeding inequality.
"China's is so recent and so vivid and so very much understood by its own people and its government and that gives it, I think, a unique platform from which to share with the rest of the world the climate transition, the energy transition, education, jobs and social protection. Each of these are areas where we are already working in that triangularity between a partner country, China, and the United Nations. And we really want to double down on that now," said Stephen Jackson, United Nations Resident Coordinator in China.
UNDP, China mark South-South Cooperation Day
