A SHENZHEN-PRODUCED word-of-mouth hit “Dear You” was screened at the 79th Cannes International Film Festival late last week, marking its official debut on the world’s top film stage.

Shot in the Chaoshan (Teochew) dialect on a low budget, directed by Shenzhen-based filmmaker Lan Hongchun, and starring first-time actors, the film — subsidized by Shenzhen’s government publicity funds — serves as an important window for global audiences to understand Chaoshan culture and the warmth of Chinese family ties.

According to film data platform Maoyan, “Dear You” had grossed 500 million yuan (US$72.8 million) by 8 p.m. Beijing time Sunday, topping the daily box office for eight consecutive days.

Released on April 30, it has outperformed all other May Day holiday releases, including the twist-filled crime thriller “Vanishing Point” and the Hong Kong-set franchise entry “Cold War 1994.”

The film draws on the history of qiaopi — the letters and remittances sent home by earlier generations of overseas Chinese. UNESCO added the qiaopi archives to its Memory of the World Register in 2013.

The film follows a series of letters written to Ye Shurou, a grandmother who spent decades waiting for her husband, Zheng Musheng, while her grandson searches for the truth behind their family’s past. The journey gradually uncovers the hidden story of Xie Nanzhi, a Thai woman of Teochew descent who was Zheng’s sworn sister and trusted confidante.

After Zheng’s death, Xie quietly supported Ye Shurou from afar, secretly writing letters and sending money in his name for 18 years. Years later, Xie’s adopted son, Xie Zehua, reads those letters aloud to Grandma Ye, revealing a long-buried story.

Featuring authentic Teochew dialect throughout, the film weaves together local customs, family bonds, and the historical experiences of overseas Chinese communities.

Reportedly produced on a budget of just over 10 million yuan, the film has emerged as one of China’s biggest cinematic surprises of 2026. It is widely hailed for its emotional authenticity, grounded storytelling, and unusually convincing performances from its first-time actors.

The film will also be featured at the 22nd China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair, which  will kick off tomorrow.                (Debra Li)