AI in Conversation with a Reporter from U.S.-China Times on Two Qiaopi-Themed Films

By Tan Xiang, Reporter, and Arthur Peng, Special Correspondent, U.S.-China Times

Introduction

Dear You (给阿嬷的情书) is a Chinese family drama released in 2026, written and directed by Lan Hongchun. Set against the backdrop of the Chaoshan dialect and the cultural heritage of Qiaopi (overseas Chinese family letters and remittances), the film tells the story of Xiaowei, a young man from Chaoshan who travels to Thailand in search of his legendary wealthy grandfather while struggling with debt. Along the way, he uncovers long-buried family secrets and gradually comes to understand the lifelong devotion, love, and homesickness of his grandmother, Ye Shurou.

Using letters spanning several decades as its narrative thread, the film intertwines the history of Chaoshan emigrants to Southeast Asia, Qiaopi culture, and the emotional destinies of ordinary people. Without relying on excessive sentimentality, it portrays the warmth between grandmother and grandson through authentic and touching details of daily life. Its sincere storytelling and rich regional flavor have moved audiences nationwide, earning it recognition as one of the most heartfelt Chinese family films in recent years.

The film is not only a love letter to “Grandma,” but also a tribute to hometown, family bonds, and collective memory.

The Mysterious Family Letter (神秘家书), released in 2025 and written and directed by Cui Shaohong, combines suspense, treasure hunting, family legend, and overseas Chinese history. The story follows Situ Guangming, a descendant of overseas Chinese, who discovers a mysterious family letter left behind by his ancestors at a difficult point in his life. To uncover its hidden secrets, he teams up with his girlfriend Mei Shuyi, his childhood friend Fatty, and wealthy heir Guan Zixing on a journey filled with puzzles and challenges.

The film adopts a dual-timeline narrative structure. While contemporary young protagonists search for clues and treasure, the story simultaneously traces the struggles of overseas Chinese pioneers a century ago who lived abroad while remaining deeply connected to their homeland. As the mystery unfolds, family secrets, patriotic ideals, and national sentiments hidden within the Qiaopi letters gradually emerge.

Set in Jiangmen and the famous Kaiping Diaolou watchtowers of Guangdong Province—often called “China’s No.1 Hometown of Overseas Chinese”—the film blends suspenseful adventure with overseas Chinese culture. Through a century-old family letter, it highlights the perseverance, entrepreneurship, and patriotism of overseas Chinese communities. More than an exciting treasure hunt, it serves as a vivid lesson in overseas Chinese history and national identity.

Although both films are centered on Qiaopi (overseas Chinese family letters), Dear You has surpassed 1 billion yuan at the box office, while The Mysterious Family Letter has struggled to gain similar momentum. This does not necessarily indicate a difference in quality; rather, it reflects differences in storytelling, audience engagement, and market communication.

Recently, a reporter spoke with AI about the two films.

 

Reporter:

Both films revolve around Qiaopi culture. Why has one become a box-office sensation while the other has not?

AI:

First, the degree of emotional resonance differs.

The core of Dear You is grandparent-grandchild affection and emotional redemption. Audiences encounter themes of family, separation, longing, and reunion—universal emotions that almost everyone can relate to. Even viewers unfamiliar with Qiaopi culture can be deeply moved by the family story.

By contrast, The Mysterious Family Letter focuses more heavily on suspense, treasure hunting, and mystery-solving. Audiences are often drawn to questions such as “Where is the treasure?” or “What is the secret?” rather than the emotional journeys of the characters. As a result, its emotional impact is comparatively weaker.

Second, the balance between cultural content and commercial storytelling is different.

Dear You places Qiaopi culture subtly in the background. Audiences are first captivated by the characters and then naturally absorb the cultural context.

The Mysterious Family Letter, however, places stronger emphasis on cultural promotion. Qiaopi culture itself becomes a major narrative focus. When cultural education outweighs character-driven storytelling, viewers may feel they are being taught rather than entertained.

Third, the films differ in character development.

Successful films tend to make audiences remember the characters rather than the subject matter.

In Dear You, the grandmother is vividly portrayed and represents countless selfless elders in Chinese families. Many viewers are reminded of their own grandmothers and therefore develop a strong emotional connection.

In The Mysterious Family Letter, the characters serve more as vehicles for advancing the plot. Their emotional growth and personal arcs are less pronounced, making it harder for audiences to form lasting attachments.

Fourth, the films target different audiences.

Dear You is a classic universal emotional drama, appealing to young, middle-aged, and elderly viewers alike.

The Mysterious Family Letter is a hybrid of suspense, historical culture, and ancestral exploration, naturally attracting a more niche audience.

At a deeper level:

Qiaopi itself is not the selling point.

People do not buy movie tickets simply to learn about Qiaopi. They come for the people behind the letters.

A family letter can be presented as a cultural artifact—or as a lifelong love story. It can be framed as historical knowledge—or as an epic family saga spanning generations.

The success of Dear You demonstrates an important principle of filmmaking:

The best cultural communication does not begin by telling audiences how important a culture is; it begins by making them fall in love with the people in the story.

When audiences cry for Grandma, they naturally remember Qiaopi. But if the film focuses first on Qiaopi itself, audiences may not remember the film at all.

The greatest difference between the two films may not be what they tell, but how they tell it. One uses Qiaopi to explore humanity; the other uses characters to explain Qiaopi. The former transcends cultural and regional boundaries through emotional power, which is a key reason for its box-office success.

 

Reporter:

Could you analyze the differences between the two films from the perspectives of journalism and film studies?

AI:

I. Journalism and Communication: From Cultural Transmission to Emotional Transmission

There is a classic principle in communication studies:

People pay attention first to people, then to events, and finally to culture.

Dear You follows this pathway successfully.

On the surface, it tells a story about love and family. Qiaopi serves merely as the medium through which the story unfolds. After leaving the theater, audiences discuss questions such as:

They are not primarily discussing historical facts about Qiaopi.

As a result, the film generates organic social media sharing:

This is a classic example of emotional viral communication.

By contrast, the promotional focus of The Mysterious Family Letter centers on:

These topics possess strong cultural value but may not trigger widespread emotional engagement.

In communication theory:

Information value ≠ Communication value.

Qiaopi culture is highly valuable, but value alone does not guarantee mass appeal.

The comparison between these films provides a textbook case study of how Chinese cultural subjects can—or cannot—achieve broad public communication.

 

Reporter:

From a genre perspective, what distinguishes an emotional drama from a mission-driven cultural film?

AI:

Dear You is essentially:

Family Drama + Romance

The Mysterious Family Letter is:

Suspense Adventure + Treasure Hunt + Cultural Theme Film

The two genres attract different audiences.

The central conflict in Dear You is:

Human relationships.

The central conflict in The Mysterious Family Letter is:

The relationship between people and secrets.

Film theory suggests that:

Character-driven stories are often more emotionally engaging than plot-driven stories.

Audiences remember Grandma in Dear You.

Audiences remember the mysterious letter in The Mysterious Family Letter.

One leaves audiences with a memorable character; the other leaves them with a memorable object.

Naturally, the emotional impact differs.

 

Reporter:

How do their screenplay structures differ?

AI:

From a screenwriting perspective, the films employ different narrative strategies.

Dear You

Uses:

Emotional Suspense

Viewers keep wondering:

The answers ultimately serve the characters’ destinies.

The Mysterious Family Letter

Uses:

Event-Based Suspense

Viewers ask:

The answers primarily serve the mystery itself.

Film history has repeatedly shown that audiences tend to remember the people who made them cry, rather than the puzzles that were solved.

 

Reporter:

How do the directors’ creative philosophies differ?

AI:

According to public reports, director Lan Hongchun of Dear You visited more than 300 overseas Chinese families across Southeast Asia, transforming real Qiaopi stories into human destinies. His focus was on loyalty, love, and perseverance.

Director Cui Shaohong of The Mysterious Family Letter has long studied Kaiping’s overseas Chinese culture and sought to promote Qiaopi archives and emigrant history through a commercial genre film, incorporating treasure-hunting and mystery elements.

Both directors deserve respect.

The difference is:

Lan Hongchun is primarily telling the story of a person.

Cui Shaohong is primarily telling the story of a history.

 

Reporter:

Both films are currently in theaters. How can overseas Chinese-language media help attract more young audiences and use these films to introduce overseas Chinese culture?

AI:

This is an important and meaningful question.

For overseas Chinese media, the key is not to ask:

“What is Qiaopi?”

but rather:

“How can we inspire young people to enter the theater first, and then discover Qiaopi through the films?”

1. Shift from Historical Promotion to Emotional Marketing

Instead of emphasizing history, promote the stories:

Dear You

The Mysterious Family Letter

Tell the story first. Explain the culture later.

2. Build Emotional Connections for Younger Generations

Feature topics such as:

3. Use Short Videos Instead of Long Articles

Most young people will not read a 3,000-word article.

But they will watch a 30-second video.

A one-minute Qiaopi video could end with:

“Before WeChat, this was how Chinese families stayed connected across oceans for more than a century.”

Young viewers immediately understand the significance.

4. Organize “Bring Your Grandparents to the Movies” Events

Partner with:

After screenings, invite elders to share their immigration stories and encourage young people to record them.

5. Make Qiaopi Interactive

Activities such as:

can help young people experience the emotional meaning of letter writing.

6. Collaborate with Theaters for Cultural Events

Host:

Qiaopi Culture Film Week

Including:

Let films be the gateway and culture the extension.

7. Focus on Real People

A timeless rule of journalism:

People spread stories better than history does.

Interview:

Show audiences that these stories are not legends—they are real lives.

The most effective slogan may not be:

“Come watch a Qiaopi movie.”

Instead, it may be:

“Come watch a film about your ancestors, about leaving home, about longing, and about family.”

When young viewers are moved by the characters, they will naturally want to learn about Qiaopi. Through Qiaopi, they will discover overseas Chinese culture, migration history, and the emotional ties that connect families across oceans.

That is the greatest cultural value of these two films—and an important mission for overseas Chinese media.

 

Reporter:

Finally, what is the key to the success of a cultural film?

AI:

The success of Dear You offers an important lesson for Chinese cultural cinema:

The best cultural communication begins not with culture, but with characters.

Audiences remember:

Only afterward do they remember:

The Mysterious Family Letter functions more as a cultural film dedicated to preserving historical memory and promoting emigrant heritage.

Dear You, by contrast, is an emotional film that happens to use Qiaopi culture as its vehicle of expression.

From a communication perspective:

One asks culture to seek an audience.

The other allows audiences to discover culture.

This may be the fundamental reason why two films about the same subject have achieved such different results in the marketplace.

 

Reporter: Thank you for your insightful analysis and sharing.

AI: You’re welcome. Feel free to reach out anytime.

(Illustrations generated by AI.)