“Dear You” is an epic familial tale focusing on love, friendship, compassion and loss but there are many stories hovering around the apparent simplistic plot. And the film is a solid hit in China being the second highest grossing film there in 2026 and attracting audiences throughout Southeast Asia. It also has sparked controversy in Singapore.
A financially improvident grandson pursued by creditors relies on family history to pursue his supposedly wealthy grandfather Den Bhagseng thought to be residing in Thailand in hopes of securing funds to liquidate his debts.
The mystery of Den Bhagseng deepens as the grandson attempts to locate his grandfather in Thailand. His search ends with confirmation of his death in 1960 but why were qiaopi letters from him still being sent to his wife Sogriu until 1978? Qiaopi letters were sent by overseas workers from China in Southeast Asia and North America including important remittances back to China. In modern day parlance think of Pilipino domestics sending vast sums of money to support families in the Philippines.
It is a fascinating mystery including cultural and linguistic suppression of the Chinese workers and the Chinese language, poverty, love, compassion, deception, friendship, misunderstanding, arson and murder all presented in a wholesome manner with an abundance of sappy music and tears with a slight comedic touch.
It resonates with Chinese audiences including the Chinese diaspora throughout the world as it encompasses Chinese emigration and oppression.
The Chinese dialect of the movie was Teochew but the Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore which regulates films distributed in Singapore required Mandarin dubbing in line with Singapore’s Speak Mandarin Campaign in force since 1979 in an attempt to establish a common language amongst Singapore’s majority Chinese population where there are at least five Chinese dialects spoken. The film’s distributor managed to obtain permission to release the film in its original Teochew dialect for numerous showings.
When Rod Stewart sings, “Every picture tells a story don’t it” the picture in the film tells a devastatingly wrong story to some and a true story to others when it’s too late!
The film is directed by Lan Hongchun.
It opens in North American theatres on 4September2026.
RKS Chinese Film Rating 82/100.
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