Winning audiences with shared memories

In 2026, one of the most unexpected stories in China’s film market has been the phenomenal success of Dear You. Amid global challenges for cinema and a struggling Chinese box office, this small-budget film has become a runaway hit. Its success was not due to cutting-edge technology, a spectacular production scale or a star-studded cast. Instead, it gained momentum through word of mouth, winning audiences with its sincerity and emotional depth.

Like a hidden gem, Dear You has inspired audiences to revisit a seemingly ordinary chapter of history. The film brings to life stories about overseas migration, especially the experiences of Chinese people who traveled across the sea to Southeast Asia in search of better opportunities. Memories of qiaopi — letters sent by overseas Chinese together with remittances to their families back home — and the history of “going south to Southeast Asia” have once again entered public conversations.

Despite a relatively quiet domestic market, Dear You is steadily approaching the 2-billion-yuan ($295.39 million) box-office milestone. Made with a budget of roughly 14 million yuan, it has achieved what many large productions struggle to do. Without major stars or spectacular visual effects, the film connects with audiences through a simple story and genuine emotions. Its success shows that viewers seek more than technological innovation or visual spectacle; they crave stories that reflect real experiences.

The impact of the film extends beyond China. When the film was released in overseas markets, especially in Southeast Asia, it sparked strong reactions among Chinese communities. Many viewers were expecting a quiet family story but left with tears in their eyes. Families watched it together, and audiences praised its warmth and sincerity.

The response in Southeast Asia is particularly meaningful. For many overseas Chinese, the film recalls the journeys of their own ancestors — people who left their hometowns, endured hardship abroad and built new lives while maintaining emotional ties with their roots. It transforms a story rooted in Chinese history into a shared memory that transcends generations and borders.

At the same time, the film has also triggered controversy. Some overseas media outlets, including Chinese-language media in Singapore, have leveled unusually sharp criticism, framing the movie through political lenses and accusing it of serving certain agendas.

Yet even this backlash reveals something important: the film has touched an emotional nerve. For supporters, it brought back memories of ancestors who left their hometowns and built new lives through perseverance. For critics, its growing influence appeared “threatening” to them because it resonated so deeply with Chinese communities overseas.

Regardless of the different reactions, one fact is undeniable: Dear You is a notable example of Chinese cinema gaining attention abroad. It raises an important question: What kind of stories can truly travel across borders?

For years, cinema has faced enormous pressure from new forms of entertainment. Advanced visual effects, artificial intelligence and digital platforms have transformed how people consume media. Even the most technologically sophisticated films can struggle to capture lasting attention. Meanwhile, short videos and online dramas have become dominant cultural products, driven by the demand for speed, novelty and constant stimulation.

Against this backdrop, Dear You offers a different answer. It succeeds not by competing with short videos through greater spectacle, but by returning to the roots of storytelling — memory, family, love and human dignity.

Through the lives of ordinary people connected by migration and distance, the film explores the emotions behind history: the longing for home, the responsibility toward family and the courage to endure hardship. What appears to be a simple family story becomes a reflection of universal human experiences.

The lesson for Chinese cinema’s global journey is clear: going global and reaching people’s hearts are interconnected goals. They depend on the same foundation — understanding emotions shared by all.

What resonates across cultures is not a slogan, but the authentic texture of life: a letter sent across the ocean, a family waiting for someone to return, and ordinary people trying to maintain dignity in difficult times. These experiences may come from a specific history, but the emotions behind them belong to everyone.

The success of Dear You shows that stories can travel internationally when they are rooted in real lives and sincere emotions. Its power does not come from exaggeration or spectacle, but from its ability to capture the quiet strength of ordinary people.

In an era when artificial intelligence may transform the production of visual content, the most valuable element of storytelling remains deeply human: the ability to understand the human heart. A local story, told with honesty and compassion, can become a shared human experience.

The author is former dean of the School of Arts and Communication at Beijing Normal University and the vice-president of the China Film Critics Association.

The views don’t necessarily represent those of China Daily.