People attend the Yangon premiere of the Chinese film "Dear You" in Yangon, Myanmar, Aug. 20, 2026. (Photo by Haymhan Aung/Xinhua)
YANGON, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- When "Dear You", the Chinese word-of-mouth blockbuster, reached Myanmar audiences, it generated an even greater stir. Audiences see reflections of their own lived experiences in its narrative, where the virtues of solidarity, benevolence and resilience shine through.
At the film's Yangon premiere held on Thursday, the cinema drew a full house. Zeng Yuanxiang, honorary board chair of the Eastern Language and Business Center in Myanmar, said the film's plot brought back vivid memories of her parents' generation. She recalled that whenever her father managed to save money, he would ask her to write letters and send remittances back to their ancestral homeland.
Rooted in the historical "qiaopi" culture, the film was shot predominantly in the Teochew dialect with a largely non-professional cast. It officially premiered on the Chinese mainland in April and has since rolled out across Southeast Asian markets, including Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Myanmar.
"This film is like watching my father's life unfold," Zeng said.
"My father took odd jobs, and my mother carried water to sell. They denied themselves proper food and clothing, sending every penny they could back home. It was not that the ancestral homeland was in desperate need of the money, but because their parents and siblings were there."
She singled out the scene that struck her most deeply: elderly Xie Lanzhi losing her memories of the past. "She should have remembered," Zeng said. "If only she could recall, she and Grandma could sit down and talk through the stories of those years."
Also in attendance were faculty and Chinese-language students from the Yangon University of Foreign Languages (YUFL). Htay Htay Myint, associate professor with YUFL's Chinese Department, noted that the film offers a window into the value of solidarity and mutual support within Chinese communities.
Aung Nyein Tun, a second-year Chinese-language student at YUFL, said the film impressed upon him the power and significance of love. "I learned how precious love is. We ought to cherish our loved ones while we still have them, before it is too late," he said.
Li Li Myint, president of the Myanmar-China Women's Association, said the film can foster closer ties between Myanmar and Chinese-origin communities by advancing mutual understanding and cultural exchanges.
Echoing those remarks, actress and director Swe Zin Htike observed that families sustain mutual support and care even when separated by national borders -- a universal sentiment that resonated with theater-goers and underscores the film's strong international relevance.
"I appreciate this kind of warm, heartfelt film," she said. ■
People pose for a photo while attending the Yangon premiere of the Chinese film "Dear You" in Yangon, Myanmar, Aug. 20, 2026. (Photo by Haymhan Aung/Xinhua)
People attend the Yangon premiere of the Chinese film "Dear You" in Yangon, Myanmar, Aug. 20, 2026. (Photo by Haymhan Aung/Xinhua)
People attend the Yangon premiere of the Chinese film "Dear You" in Yangon, Myanmar, Aug. 20, 2026. (Photo by Haymhan Aung/Xinhua)
