The Singapore premiere of Dear You, the critically acclaimed Chaoshan-dialect film rooted in the heritage of "Qiaopi", drew some 1,400 guests from China and Singapore at the Sands Theater on June 17.
Among the audience were Johannes Stubbe from Germany and Ms. Liu, a Chinese audience member living in Singapore—a cross-cultural couple who found themselves unexpectedly moved by a story set in a world far from their own yet deeply universal in its emotional core.
For Ms. Liu, the film's portrayal of love sustained through handwritten letters struck a deeply personal chord. "I think first of all, about this letter-writing tradition itself—it's very romantic if it's between loved ones, like a husband and a wife," she reflected. "That's why when we were watching it, we could see that no matter how long the distance is, their love is still there. You just resume the letter, and you can feel it with only simple words."
Johannes, who does not speak Chinese, relied on the subtitles—yet the story transcended the language barrier. "Definitely, it was a lovely story. Fair enough, I don't understand Chinese. Probably with the subtitles, it's a touching story," he said. He was captivated from start to finish—a rare experience for someone who typically watches action films. "I generally felt that it was a good movie. I was captivated throughout the entire time, and I'm not captivated like that by a lot of action movies and stuff like that that are popular nowadays."
For this Chinese-German couple, the film was more than entertainment—it was a reminder that love, patience, and devotion are universal, no matter where you come from. As Ms. Liu observed, it's "just letters, but way more than just that"—a sentiment that echoed across cultures.
Reporter: Guo Zedong
Video & cover: Deng Yingheng
