Director Hongchun Lan conducted extensive research for Dear You, in which he served as both writer and director. He visited with over 300 families whose lives were impacted by remittance letters sent home to China. Drawing from these experiences, the film follows the story of a young man who goes in search of his grandfather, whom he believes is wealthy and can solve his money problems. Through personal storytelling, deliberate pacing, and the use of silence, Dear You explores how migration, family expectations, and cultural history can create emotions that are difficult to express in words.
We are still in the midst of fast paced, lots of action summer blockbuster films. It is nice to have an option for a slower paced film. I found the opening a little choppy because the film was still establishing its characters and historical context. Once the story settled into its slower rhythm, however, the pacing gave the audience more room to experience the characters’ longing and separation. Having moments of silence creates the space for the weight of what isn’t being said to be understood. During a dinner scene between Nanzhi (Sitong Li) and her father (Peisong Fang), Nanzhi pours herself a drink even though her expression suggests discomfort with drinking alcohol. These moments allow us to experience the characters’ longing, uncertainty, and conflict rather than simply being told what they feel. Little is said, yet the interaction communicates the tension between family obligation and personal choice. These moments allow the viewer to feel the emotions of what the characters are going through. The film captures the longing created by distance and separation, the obligations people feel toward family, and the courage required to carve a different path from the one society expects.
In under two hours, it would be impossible for the film to represent every family’s experience of separation, migration, and life in China while loved ones relocated around the world. Instead, the director chose to tell a more personal story with elements of romance and hope. This was a strong choice because it gives the audience an emotional way into a complicated period of history. The romantic elements add softness to the harsh realities faced by separated families while also showing that the decision to leave was not simply a matter of right or wrong. For some, leaving a spouse and children behind meant pursuing a better life for their family while facing circumstances such as the possibility of being drafted into war. By focusing on one family’s experience rather than attempting to represent everyone, the film invites us to consider the many stories that exist beyond the one being told.
One of the film’s strengths is the relatively unfamiliar cast. When watching a foreign-language film, I sometimes find that reading subtitles while also following the actors’ delivery can create a disconnect. That was not my experience with Dear You. Because the film relies so heavily on silence, the actors have to communicate through restrained expressions, gestures, and pauses as much as through dialogue. Their performances allow viewers to understand the characters’ emotions even when those emotions are not spoken aloud. This reinforces the film’s larger theme that separation, longing, and family obligations are sometimes difficult to put into words. When Musheng (Yantong Wang) arrives at the burning building, his focus is initially on reaching his room to retrieve something of value. When he hears and then sees Nanzhi struggling to get her father out, he is forced to make an immediate choice. His hesitation reveals the conflict between self-preservation and his responsibility toward others. In that moment, the film gives the audience time to consider what choice defines a person’s character when both options carry consequences. In both scenes, the characters’ expressions, actions, and moments of hesitation communicate their internal conflicts without requiring the film to explain those emotions through dialogue.
Prior to the closing credits some facts and information on Teochews, specifically that migrated, their use of qiaopi and the importance of these letters. (Qiaopi were letters and money sent to China prior to postal and banking system improvements in the 1970s.) I know there are real stories out there and I would like to learn more about this moment in history.
Director: Hongchun Lan
Cast: Sitong Li, Yantong Wang, Shaoqing Wu
Languages: Teochew, Chaozhou, Mandarin, Chinese, Thai
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some strong violence, sexual references, language, and smoking
Selig Rating: 4 stars
Runtime: 1h 58 m
Release Date: September 4, 2026 (United States)
Genre(s): Drama, Family
Trailer: Dear You trailer
Movie Site: Dear You website
The Selig Rating Scale:
5 Stars – Excellent movie/show, well worth the time and price.
4 Stars – Good movie/show
3 Stars – OK movie/show
2 Stars – Well, there was nothing else…
1 Star – Total waste of time.