Paul Chan praises blockbuster film about Teochew community during local premiere
Hong Kong’s finance chief, who is of Teochew descent, applauds Dear You for moving depiction of characters’ deep-rooted sense of home, kinship
Dear You, an unexpected box-office hit that was shot on a shoestring budget, focuses on a grandson’s efforts to learn more about his family history by tracing letters sent home in Chaoshan from Thailand.
The film will go into general release in Hong Kong next Thursday.
Teochow, or Chaozhou, refers to a city in southern mainland China, while Chaoshan is a portmanteau referring to the region of Chaozhou and the nearby Shantou.
“In Hong Kong’s early days, a large number of Chaoshan people arrived in the city on so-called red-headed boats, and settled down,” Chan said.
“Over the years, the Chaoshan community has worked very hard, with solidarity and helping each other, becoming an important force in Hong Kong’s business sector.”