A global release plan for the film Dear You (《给阿嬷的情书》) was announced on June 5. The first round of its overseas rollout will begin on June 18, with simultaneous releases in China's Hong Kong and Macao, as well as Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei.
Deeply rooted in Guangdong's Chaoshan culture, Dear You is a dialect film set against the historical backdrop of Qiaopi (侨批), the letters and remittance documents sent by overseas Chinese to their families at home. Qiaopi archives are inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register. Since its release in China, the film has struck a chord with audiences through its delicate emotional portrayal and heartfelt storytelling.
The film currently has a 9.2 rating on Chinese review platform Douban (豆瓣), leading Chinese films of the past decade. It has grossed more than 1.5 billion yuan in box office, ranking second on China's 2026 annual box office chart.
According to its distributor, the film will continue to expand its global distribution in the coming months. Future releases are planned for the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and other countries and regions. By carrying this memory-laden story across oceans, the film seeks to bring the warmth and enduring strength of Chinese stories to audiences worldwide.
About Dear You:
Dear You follows Ye Shurou, a grandmother from Chaoshan who lives a simple life while holding onto a lifelong yearning across the ocean. Years ago, her husband, Zheng Musheng, traveled to Southeast Asia to make a living. Over time, countless Qiaopi letters and remittance documents crossed the ocean, carrying his deep longing. Years later, her grandson Xiaowei travels to Thailand in search of Zheng Musheng, only to learn that his grandfather had passed away in 1960. The person who continued sending letters and money under Zheng's name for the next two decades was, in fact, a stranger named Xie Nanzhi. Entrusted by Zheng on his deathbed, she helped sustain two families separated by mountains and seas.
More than 90% of the plot is adapted from true stories of overseas Chinese. The film helps audiences understand that those yellowed letters and faded postmarks recorded far more than money and daily trivialities. They carried the enduring devotion of generations of overseas Chinese who remained deeply connected to their homeland, reflecting a simple yet profound sense of loyalty and love rooted in the Chinese spirit.
Related news: Dear You to be released in Hong Kong, Macao and overseas markets from June 18
Author | Dong Han
Poster | Lai Meiya
