Regional Chinese film breaks US box office barrier with September release

A Teochew-language family drama that has already earned nearly US$300 million in mainland China will open across North America on September 4, marking a crucial test of whether regional Chinese cinema can draw audiences beyond ethnic Chinese communities.

Well Go USA, a Texas-based distributor specializing in Asian films, will release Dear You, whose Chinese title translates as "Love Letters for Grandma", on 86 screens in 23 US states and two Canadian locations, with additional showings anticipated. The modest rollout targets major metropolitan areas as distributors wager that the film's themes can cross language and cultural divides, though sceptics question whether it will resonate outside Chinese-speaking markets.

A migration story rooted in Guangdong

The film centres on a debt-burdened grandson from the Teochew, or Chaoshan, region of Guangdong Province who travels to Thailand searching for the grandfather he believes deserted his family. He seeks help repaying his debts from the man behind years of "qiaopi", letters overseas Chinese migrants sent home, typically containing remittances, but instead uncovers his family's history and his grandparents' relationship.

Dear You became China's biggest box-office surprise this year and gained traction in Southeast Asia before its North American debut. Its success has triggered debate about China's cultural influence within overseas Chinese communities, with observers asking whether Chinese cinema can reshape perceptions of China abroad and whether that cultural presence translates into soft power.

The seemingly apolitical narrative has nonetheless raised questions about the role films can play in projecting Chinese culture internationally. Its North American performance will reveal whether a work steeped in migration, family bonds, and regional identity can find purchase beyond audiences already familiar with those contexts.

Source: South China Morning Post