A region steals the scene

"There is a saying: Where there is the sea, there are tides; where there are Chaoshan people, there is Chaoju Opera," Lin says.

As a veteran performer who has toured Thailand with the Guangdong Chao Opera Institute for several consecutive years, Lin has witnessed how deeply the tradition resonates among overseas communities.

"There are scenes in the film shot in places where we've performed many times," she says.

"Whenever we perform overseas, I am reminded that Chaoju is much more than entertainment.

"Some people left their hometown decades ago and never returned. But the moment they hear the music, memories of home come flooding back."

More than entertainment

If Chaoju gives voice to longing, Yingge dance answers with exuberance.

Featured prominently in Dear You, Yingge dance combines folk dance, martial arts and theater in performances driven by pounding drums, painted faces and synchronized wooden batons.

Rooted in stories of the heroes of Water Margin, one of China's best-known classic novels, the dance has become one of the most recognizable symbols of Chaoshan culture, attracting millions of views on Chinese social media.

"The film portrays Yingge dance truthfully," says Chen Laifa, a 69-year-old veteran performer from Puning, Guangdong province. "The scenes feel authentic because they capture the history and spirit of the Chaoshan people."

To newcomers, Yingge dance may seem like pure spectacle, he says. But beneath its powerful rhythms lies a carefully structured tradition, with each formation, movement and musical pattern carrying its own meaning.

"The sound of the batons grips the heart, and the horns urge people to dance," Chen says. "The movements express courage and resilience. That's where Yingge dance's artistic appeal lies."

Chen began performing Yingge dance at the age of 18 and describes the tradition as belonging equally to history, community, entertainment, and art.

"There is an old Chaoshan saying: When the gongs and drums begin, your heart starts to itch," Chen says.

Whenever a troupe performs, he says, people of all ages fill the streets — not simply to watch, but to take part in a tradition passed from one generation to the next.

Like Lin, he sees Dear You as an opportunity to introduce younger audiences to a living cultural heritage. "Cinema allows traditional culture to reach more people," he says. "It helps the younger generation understand Yingge dance."

For Xie Jishun, a veteran performer and researcher of Chaoju, the traditional opera and Yingge dance together form the emotional and cultural heart of Chaoshan.

"Chaoju is gentle and lyrical; Yingge dance is bold and powerful. Together they tell the story of who the Chaoshan people are," he says.

He describes Chaoju as an invisible bridge connecting generations of overseas Chaoshan communities with their ancestral homeland. Across Southeast Asia, opera performances remain at the heart of Chinese New Year celebrations, temple festivals, clan gatherings, and community events, preserving not only the art form itself but also an entire way of life.

"For overseas audiences, Chaoju is far more than entertainment," he says. "It is a spiritual homecoming."

Xie believes films such as Dear You are helping these traditions find new audiences.

By weaving Chaoju into a contemporary family story, the film has sparked renewed interest in the opera while drawing wider attention to Chaoshan's cultural heritage. That growing visibility, he says, is encouraging closer collaboration among filmmakers, cultural institutions and the local tourism sector, creating new opportunities for traditional arts to thrive.

"The most moving part isn't only what's happening on stage," Xie says. "It's the way ordinary people continue to cherish these traditions and weave them into everyday life."

Contact the writer at chennan@chinadaily.com.cn