Chinese box office hit sparks identity debate in Singapore over dialect policy

TLE Desk: A surprise Chinese box office success has reignited debate in Singapore over the country’s long-standing language policy, after moviegoers criticised the decision to screen the film mostly in Mandarin rather than its original Teochew dialect.

Dear You, a family drama that has become one of China’s biggest cinema hits this summer, is filmed almost entirely in Teochew, a language spoken in China’s Chaoshan region and among many older ethnic Chinese communities across Southeast Asia.

However, when the film opened in Singapore this month, most screenings were dubbed into Mandarin, prompting criticism from audiences who argued the original language was central to the film’s authenticity and cultural significance.

Public demand quickly exceeded expectations, with the first eight Teochew-language screenings selling out in less than two hours. Following widespread calls on social media, authorities approved additional screenings, with nearly 5,000 tickets for a second batch also selling out rapidly. A further 50 Teochew screenings have since been authorised.

The controversy has revived discussion about Singapore’s decades-old Speak Mandarin Campaign, introduced in the 1980s to encourage Chinese Singaporeans to adopt Mandarin instead of regional Chinese dialects such as Teochew, Hokkien, Cantonese and Hakka.

The campaign formed part of Singapore’s broader bilingual education policy, which promoted English alongside designated mother tongues according to ethnicity.

According to official figures, nearly 70% of Chinese Singaporeans spoke Chinese dialects at home when the campaign began. By 2020, that figure had fallen to just 8.7%, with English now the dominant household language for many younger Singaporeans.

Language scholars say the success of Dear You has highlighted a growing interest among younger generations in reconnecting with their cultural heritage.

Lee Cher Leng, an associate professor of Chinese Studies at the National University of Singapore, said dialects represented the historical roots of many Chinese Singaporeans, while Mandarin was largely acquired through formal education.

She said it was remarkable that a low-budget film had triggered such a significant national conversation about identity.

The movie follows a young man from southern China searching for his grandfather in Thailand after the older man fled during the Chinese Civil War in 1948. Set against the backdrop of Chinese migration to Southeast Asia, the story has resonated strongly with Singaporeans whose ancestors made similar journeys.

Following public pressure, Singapore’s Ministry of Digital Development and Information said it would adopt “a more flexible approach” towards approving dialect-language films in cinemas.

The debate has also drawn political attention, with lawmakers questioning whether restrictions on dialect films remain appropriate decades after the government’s original objectives had largely been achieved.

Linguists, however, caution that renewed interest alone may not reverse the long-term decline of dialects unless they are actively spoken within families and communities.

Despite growing enthusiasm among younger Singaporeans to learn the languages of their grandparents, experts warn that without regular everyday use, dialects may continue to fade from public life.