Editor’s Note
- Keeping the Teochew language alive: The United Teochew Association of North Sumatra organizes a public screening of “Dear You” at XXI Cambridge
- Film synopsis: “Dear You” (Love Letters to Grandma)
- Moral message of the film “Dear You”
Keeping the Teochew language alive: The United Teochew Association of North Sumatra organizes a public screening of “Dear You” at XXI Cambridge
To generate interest in the film—which is currently attracting significant attention within the Chinese community because it is set in the Teochew language—the United Teochew Association of North Sumatra (Sumut) organized a public screening of the family drama “Dear You” (Love Letters to Grandma).
The event took place at XXI Cambridge, Medan, on Saturday, August 8, 2026. The public screening was attended by the board and members of the United Teochew Association of North Sumatra, as well as members of Medan’s Chinese community spanning various generations.
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Audience enthusiasm was high, partly because the film was presented entirely in the authentic Teochew dialect, evoking a deep sense of nostalgia for traditional Chinese culture.
Film synopsis: “Dear You” (Love Letters to Grandma)
“Dear You,” directed by Lan Hongchun, is an emotional story based on the true history of remittances and letters sent by the Chinese diaspora, known as qiaopi.
The story revolves around Ye Sogriu (Wu Shaoqing), a Teochew grandmother who has faithfully waited her entire life for news from her husband, Deng Bhagseng, who emigrated abroad. Driven by devotion, her grandson Xiaowei (Zheng Runqi) embarks on a journey to Thailand, following clues from an old qiaopi (migrant letter).
However, the journey reveals a shocking truth and a major family secret that has been kept hidden for five decades.
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Xiaowei discovers that the person who has been exchanging letters with his grandmother for decades is not his grandfather (Deng Bhagsheng), but a woman named Zia Lamqi.
This complex yet moving story successfully portrays the sacrifices, love, and tears of immigrants supporting their families back home.
The moral message of the film Dear You
Through the screening of *Dear You*, the North Sumatra United Teochew Association invites viewers to reflect on profound moral messages:
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• The importance of preserving cultural roots and the mother tongue: The use of authentic Teochew serves as a reminder to the younger generation not to lose sight of their ancestral cultural and linguistic identity amidst modern life.
• The value of family loyalty and sacrifice: The film depicts the immense sacrifices made by previous generations (the diaspora)—who were willing to risk their lives abroad for their families—as well as the steadfastness of a wife who faithfully kept hope alive.
• Valuing intergenerational communication and relationships: In today’s digital age, qiaopi (old letters) teach us that genuine family relationships require patience, sincerity, and deep respect across generations.
“Through this activity, the United Teochew Association of North Sumatra hopes that the noble values of Chaoshan culture will endure, be understood, and be proudly passed on to the younger generation of Chinese people in North Sumatra,” stated Associate Professor Dr. Agus Susanto Tan. ***rel
