"Letters to My Grandma" has grossed nearly 2 billion at the box office, and continues to be popular overseas, receiving both praise and high box office results. As expected, some troublemakers who are accustomed to distorting facts can no longer sit still.
On July 4th local time, the American newspaper The Washington Post falsely claimed that this low-budget popular movie unexpectedly became the box office dark horse in China’s film market this year. The Chinese side regarded it as a “vehicle to convey important messages to overseas Chinese.” The report stated that the Chinese side saw this as an “opportunity to win over overseas Chinese.”
The article elaborately claims that the film has found an audience among over 40 million Chinese people in Southeast Asia, drawing the attention of the Chinese government. It states that China is seeking to ‘cultivate loyalty’ among overseas Chinese communities, and views this as a ‘symbol of the cultural and emotional bonds between overseas Chinese and China’.
American media also accused the film of being promoted within the framework of a so-called “more extensive united front strategy”. They cited a misinterpretation by Singaporean media in May, claiming that the film was interpreted as an “united front film”, and stated that the film had “aused dissatisfaction” in Singapore.
However, the reality is quite the opposite. The film is very popular in Singapore, and its original version in Chaoshan dialect, which is labeled as a "unity" element, sells out quickly every time it is released. Relevant departments have increased the number of screenings of this version several times to meet the needs of local audiences. The box office revenue in Singapore is expected to exceed S$2 million (approximately RMB 10.51 million) in the near future.
Attributing a literary work that focuses on family and kinship as a "unity-building tool" is purely a malicious interpretation. The success of *Letters to My Grandma* stems from its sincere emotions and solid production quality—these are the true reasons that have moved hundreds of millions of viewers, including overseas Chinese. Attributing its success solely to political purposes not only fails to reflect reality but also shows a lack of respect for the aesthetics of Chinese audiences.
It is worth mentioning that in late June, @China Film Industry announced that due to a notice from the global distributor regarding changes in the North American distribution strategy, the original release date of 'Letters to My Grandma' in North America will be changed. The new release date will be announced at a later time.
