Chinese box office hit sparks identity debate in Singapore
The film 'Dear You', shot almost entirely in the Teochew dialect, has become a hit in China, but its screening in Singapore – mostly dubbed into Mandarin – has sparked outrage and revived debate over the country's language policy.
Film's success and backlash in Singapore
A nostalgic tale of family and hope, 'Dear You' has swept Chinese box offices this summer and unexpectedly sparked a conversation about identity in Singapore. The film was filmed almost entirely in Teochew, a dialect still spoken by older generations of Chinese in Southeast Asia. However, when it hit Singaporean cinemas, most screenings were dubbed into Mandarin, Singapore's official Chinese language, causing dismay among many locals.
Legacy of language policy
The controversy has reignited debate over Singapore's decades-long 'Speak Mandarin Campaign', which aimed to unify the Chinese community by discouraging dialects like Teochew, Hokkien, Cantonese, and Hakka. The campaign succeeded so well that dialect use at home dropped from nearly 70% in 1980 to 8.7% in 2020. Many Singaporeans see dialects as a link to their heritage and are calling for more flexibility.
Public response and government reaction
Under pressure, Singapore's information ministry said it would take a more flexible approach to screening dialect films. Initially, only eight Teochew screenings sold out within two hours; later, 50 additional shows were approved. Some viewers, even those who do not understand Teochew, prefer the original version, arguing that dubbing loses authenticity. Experts note that the film's uproar reflects a grieving for lost culture, and while young Singaporeans increasingly seek to learn dialects, reversing the decline remains uncertain.
