Extra Teochew shows of the indie hit signal ‘increasing liberalisation’ towards dialect films, but long-term changes will take time, analysts say
4-MIN READ4-MINKolette LimPublished: 10:18am, 26 Jun 2026Singaporean Hong Weilun was left disappointed after he failed to secure tickets for limited Teochew screenings of the Chinese film Dear You when they were released on Monday.“It is important to watch the original version because the mood, nuances and emotional weight of the film are best conveyed through the actors’ expressions, accents and subtle vocal cues,” Hong said.
The concession follows intense public discourse about Singapore’s choice to commercially screen a Mandarin-dubbed version of the blockbuster, with many voicing concerns about a loss of authenticity and heritage.
As dialect usage wanes, the relevance of the city state’s language policies has also been thrust into the spotlight.
Singapore guidelines dictate that dialect films are allowed on a case-by-case basis, and that Chinese films meant for theatrical release should generally be in Mandarin.
