Film on overseas Chinese letters resonates with foreign envoys

Thai Ambassador to China Chatchai Viriyavejakul's eyes glistened as he spoke with China Daily in Beijing after watching Dear You, a Chinese film deeply rooted in the history and culture of qiaopi, or overseas remittance letters.

"This movie touches the hearts of many people in Southeast Asia," he said. "It shows the bonds and friendship among people across cultures."

A special screening of the film, which was held on Monday, brought together about 150 foreign diplomats and their spouses from 74 embassies and eight regional and international organizations in China.

It centers around the qiaopi culture, which refers to the tradition of early generations of overseas Chinese sending letters and remittances back home. These parcels carried not only money and messages from afar, but also their deep attachment to their loved ones and homeland.

Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei said that in modern times, many Chinese people have traveled overseas, worked hard and supported one another in foreign lands.

Dear You, which follows a series of cross-border family letters, tells a poignant story that spans time and space and transcends blood ties, Hong said, adding that the movie shows ordinary Chinese people's attachment to their families and the country, and also reveals their sincerity and kindness to one another.

After a sweeping domestic run, the film hit overseas markets starting on June 18, with screenings held in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.

Chatchai, the Thai ambassador, said the story found particular resonance in Southeast Asia, where many people share cultural and historical links with China.

The film is set to hit theaters in Thailand in August, he said, adding that many Thai viewers are already looking forward to seeing it on the big screen. "I think it will do well at the box office in Thailand," he said.

The familiar tropes of migrating for work and seeking a sense of belonging in a distant land also struck a chord with Jonathan Austin, New Zealand's ambassador to China. The film, he said, speaks to anyone who has lived far from home, including diplomats.

"There were many emotional moments, and I think there were many tears in the audience," Austin said. "All of us have that feeling of connection back to home, and I think that came through strongly in the film."

The film is able to transcend language barriers because its central theme — an enduring bond to one's roots despite the distance from home — is something that people in different parts of the world can identify with, he added.

Hussam Al Husseini, Jordan's ambassador to China, said he was deeply moved by the film's portrayal of family memories and bonds, as well as the values it embodies.

He said that an early scene in the film touched him deeply. In the scene, the male protagonist chooses to rescue the female protagonist's father from a fire instead of protecting his own money.

That moment, Al Husseini said, reflected the character's enduring strength of values, which is shared by people living far from home.

The film serves as a window for foreign audiences to better understand Chinese culture, he said, adding that the story speaks to broader Eastern cultures and the values shared by people in both Jordan and China.

Zheng Xuanxuan, the film's chief producer, said the film is about an invisible yet unbreakable bond that connects people to their hometowns, loved ones and cultural roots no matter where they go.