# Dearest (亲爱的)
**Dearest** (亲爱的) is a 2014 Chinese drama film directed by Peter Chan Ho-sun and written by Zhang Ji, adapted from real child-abduction cases in mainland China. It follows a divorced couple, Tian Wenjun (Huang Bo) and Lu Xiaojuan (Hao Lei), whose young son Tian Peng is abducted in Shenzhen, and it continues past their reunion with the boy into the story of the rural foster mother, Li Hongqin ([Zhao Wei](https://www.edgepedia.org/zhao-wei)), who loses him. The cast also includes Tong Dawei, Zhang Yi, and [Zhang Yuqi](https://www.edgepedia.org/zhang-yuqi).[1](https://wapbaike.baidu.com/item/%E4%BA%B2%E7%88%B1%E7%9A%84/14246285?fromModule=tashuo-article_bottom-lemma) • [2](https://www.disneyplus.com/zh-sg/browse/entity-a110b0b4-a866-44d0-8384-9bb5c1712f96) The film premiered out of competition at the 71st Venice International Film Festival on 28 August 2014 and was released in mainland China in late September 2014.[3](https://media.people.com.cn/n/2014/0829/c14677-25565717.html) • [4](https://baike.so.com/doc/5401080.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Chinese / English titles | 亲爱的 / Dearest (originally titled 亲爱的小孩, "Dear Child")[5](https://www.chinanews.com/yl/2014/06-10/6265356.shtml) |
| Director / writer | Peter Chan (陈可辛); screenplay by Zhang Ji (张冀)[1](https://wapbaike.baidu.com/item/%E4%BA%B2%E7%88%B1%E7%9A%84/14246285?fromModule=tashuo-article_bottom-lemma) |
| Main cast | Huang Bo, Zhao Wei, Tong Dawei, Hao Lei, Zhang Yi, Zhang Yuqi[2](https://www.disneyplus.com/zh-sg/browse/entity-a110b0b4-a866-44d0-8384-9bb5c1712f96) |
| Runtime | 128 minutes[1](https://wapbaike.baidu.com/item/%E4%BA%B2%E7%88%B1%E7%9A%84/14246285?fromModule=tashuo-article_bottom-lemma) |
| Premiere and release | World premiere at Venice, 28 August 2014; mainland release 25–26 September 2014; Hong Kong release 22 January 2015[3](https://media.people.com.cn/n/2014/0829/c14677-25565717.html) • [1](https://wapbaike.baidu.com/item/%E4%BA%B2%E7%88%B1%E7%9A%84/14246285?fromModule=tashuo-article_bottom-lemma) |
| Box office | First day 37 million RMB; first week US$32.5 million; lifetime mainland total about 345 million RMB[6](https://culture.people.com.cn/n/2014/0928/c1013-25755020.html) • [7](https://www.screendaily.com/busans-asia-star-awards-honours-chan/5078285.article) • [4](https://baike.so.com/doc/5401080.html) |
| Basis | Real abduction cases reported by CCTV's legal programming, including the Sun Haiyang search for his son[1](https://wapbaike.baidu.com/item/%E4%BA%B2%E7%88%B1%E7%9A%84/14246285?fromModule=tashuo-article_bottom-lemma) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
Tian Wenjun and Lu Xiaojuan are divorced, and their son Tian Peng (nicknamed Pengpeng), aged three, is the only bond between them. One afternoon the boy disappears while playing outside and does not return. Wenjun publicizes his grief by making videos and singing on street corners, deals with blackmailers demanding money for a child they do not have, and joins a support group of parents of missing children. His stated reason for persisting is that "hope is like food. Without it you die." Eventually he and Xiaojuan receive reliable word of the boy's whereabouts at a remote farm and take him back.[8](https://time.com/3274257/good-kill-hungry-hearts-dearest-reviews/) • [2](https://www.disneyplus.com/zh-sg/browse/entity-a110b0b4-a866-44d0-8384-9bb5c1712f96)
**The second half.** The narrative then shifts its point of view to Li Hongqin (Zhao Wei), the rural woman who had raised the boy for roughly half his life and, not knowing how he arrived on the farm, regarded him as her own. When the authorities also take away her other child, an abducted girl, she engages a shabby but gradually conscienced young lawyer (Tong Dawei) to try to recover her. Chinese criticism of the film has noted that the story only begins, rather than ends, when the child is found: the found son no longer recognizes his birth parents, and the film explores the emotional entanglement of two families on both sides of an abduction.[8](https://time.com/3274257/good-kill-hungry-hearts-dearest-reviews/) • [9](https://wyb.chinawriter.com.cn/attachment/201410/22/ebd13f49-0bb1-42c2-8db3-e20edf46b745.pdf)
## Origin and production
The project began in 2013, when a mainland colleague showed Peter Chan a television documentary about a successful Weibo-based "anti-abduction" case. Chan said the story moved him because, in his words, "there is no villain in it; people are simply too unlucky, toyed with by heaven."[10](https://www.dianyingjie.com.cn/2014/0928/1030.shtml) Other accounts trace the idea to a CCTV legal program on child trafficking; the abduction suffered by the real-life model for Tian Wenjun was well known in China's anti-abduction community.[11](https://ent.ifeng.com/a/detail_2014_09/27/38934185_0.shtml)
Chan again teamed with Zhang Ji, the screenwriter of his previous mainland film *American Dreams in China* (2013). Preparation began after the [Lunar New Year](https://www.edgepedia.org/lunar-new-year) in 2014; shooting ran from 4 April to 6 June 2014 in [Guangzhou](https://www.edgepedia.org/guangzhou) and Shenzhen, and the film wrapped on schedule for a 26 September release, which Chan described as unusually smooth.[10](https://www.dianyingjie.com.cn/2014/0928/1030.shtml) • [12](https://www.screendaily.com/news/peter-ho-sun-chan-unveils-dearest/5072921.article) The working title throughout production was *亲爱的小孩* ([Dear Child](https://www.edgepedia.org/dear-child)); it was shortened to *Dearest* before release, which Huang Bo jokingly explained on the grounds that the child was gone, leaving only "dearest."[5](https://www.chinanews.com/yl/2014/06-10/6265356.shtml)
Zhao Wei, appearing just after her own directing debut *So Young*, played the rural foster mother with bare makeup and short hair, a role she called a considerable challenge because she had never been offered such a part. Huang Bo, known mainly for comedy, played the desperate father; in one celebrated sequence he carried a child weighing fifty to sixty jin while running through hills for three straight shooting days.[13](https://www.chinanews.com/yl/2014/06-10/6264883.shtml)
## Release and box office
The film was invited to the out-of-competition (展映) section of the 71st Venice International Film Festival, where the director and cast walked the red carpet on 27 August and the film was screened the following day.[3](https://media.people.com.cn/n/2014/0829/c14677-25565717.html) It then screened as a Gala presentation at the [Toronto International Film Festival](https://www.edgepedia.org/toronto-international-film-festival), its North American premiere.[14](https://www.screendaily.com/toronto/toronto-2014-unveils-first-wave/5075454.article) It later played at Busan, London, Rio de Janeiro, and the Hawaii International Film Festival.[7](https://www.screendaily.com/busans-asia-star-awards-honours-chan/5078285.article)
In mainland China the film opened on 25 September 2014, one day before the National Day (Golden Week) holiday. It earned 12 million RMB in its first six hours and 37 million RMB on its first full day, taking 66% of that day's national total of 56 million RMB after the US-China co-production *Outcast* withdrew from the same date.[6](https://culture.people.com.cn/n/2014/0928/c1013-25755020.html) • [15](https://news.ifeng.com/c/7fo4SIvnnwk) It crossed 100 million RMB within three days, topped the daily chart for five consecutive days, and opened at No. 1 over the Golden Week with US$13.5 million.[16](https://yule.sohu.com/20141008/n404910723.shtml) • [17](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/oct/01/global-box-office-the-equalizer-denzel-washington) Its first week totaled US$32.5 million (RMB 200 million), and its lifetime mainland gross reached about 345 million RMB.[7](https://www.screendaily.com/busans-asia-star-awards-honours-chan/5078285.article) • [4](https://baike.so.com/doc/5401080.html) We Distribution sold the film to Asian territories including Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei, and Japan.[7](https://www.screendaily.com/busans-asia-star-awards-honours-chan/5078285.article)
## Reception and awards
Critical response praised the performances above all. *Screen Daily* called it an "epic melodrama" that was at times disjointed and overextended but succeeded in bringing the issue of child abduction in China, and the exploitation of searching parents, into sharp focus.[18](https://www.screendaily.com/dearest/5076761.article) *Time* highlighted Zhao Wei's performance as the foster mother, "a symphony of pathos and desperate strength," and described the film as an epic (the father's story) and its intimate sequel (the foster mother's) in a single package.[8](https://time.com/3274257/good-kill-hungry-hearts-dearest-reviews/) Chinese reviewers scored it 8.4 out of 10 on Douban (from about 529,600 voters as of November 2025), and it was reported at release as the highest-rated domestic film of 2014.[1](https://wapbaike.baidu.com/item/%E4%BA%B2%E7%88%B1%E7%9A%84/14246285?fromModule=tashuo-article_bottom-lemma) • [19](https://ent.ifeng.com/c/7dwfIIR10Xr)
Among its awards, the film won Best Film at the 22nd Beijing College Student Film Festival (May 2015), the Outstanding Feature Film Award at the 16th Huabiao Awards, Best Actress for Zhao Wei at the 34th Hong Kong Film Awards, Best Supporting Actor for Zhang Yi at the 30th Golden Rooster Awards, and Best Actress prizes from the Hong Kong Film Critics Society and the Chinese American Film Festival; it was also named one of the Ten Great Chinese-Language Films of the third Cross-Strait and Three-Regions list.[1](https://wapbaike.baidu.com/item/%E4%BA%B2%E7%88%B1%E7%9A%84/14246285?fromModule=tashuo-article_bottom-lemma) Producer We Pictures states that the film won seven major film awards and received the Audience Award at Tokyo FILMeX in 2015.[20](https://www.wepictures.com/upload/files/production/20190305145600_1.pdf) In March 2015, Gao Yongxia, the real-life model for Li Hongqin, said the film had distressed her and threatened to sue the producers over infringement, asking them to clarify which plot elements were fictional.[1](https://wapbaike.baidu.com/item/%E4%BA%B2%E7%88%B1%E7%9A%84/14246285?fromModule=tashuo-article_bottom-lemma) The producers separately stated in 2015 that the screenplay had no connection with *Lost and Love*, Andy Lau's abduction film released the same year.[21](https://www.jiemian.com/article/278203.html)
## Real-life aftermath
The film's prototype case continued to develop long after release. In one documented real case behind it, the Hubei man Peng Gaofeng's son was abducted in March 2008 and recovered three years later through Weibo.[22](https://paper.people.com.cn/xaq/html/2015-02/01/content_1543105.htm) Sun Haiyang, whose search for his abducted son Sun Zhuo inspired the film, found his son on 6 December 2021 after fourteen years.[23](https://www.scdnews.com/images/paper/211217/211217D.pdf) On 2 April 2023, Sun Haiyang announced that the abduction trial would open on 7 April 2023 at the Nanshan District People's Court in Shenzhen, where he had filed a civil claim for 5.8 million RMB.[1](https://wapbaike.baidu.com/item/%E4%BA%B2%E7%88%B1%E7%9A%84/14246285?fromModule=tashuo-article_bottom-lemma)
## References
1. [亲爱的（2014年陈可辛执导的剧情电影）, 百度百科](https://wapbaike.baidu.com/item/%E4%BA%B2%E7%88%B1%E7%9A%84/14246285?fromModule=tashuo-article_bottom-lemma)
2. [亲爱的, Disney+ (SG)](https://www.disneyplus.com/zh-sg/browse/entity-a110b0b4-a866-44d0-8384-9bb5c1712f96)
3. [《亲爱的》全球首映 赵薇黄裙大气闪耀威尼斯, 人民网](https://media.people.com.cn/n/2014/0829/c14677-25565717.html)
4. [亲爱的（2014年陈可辛执导电影）, 360百科](https://baike.so.com/doc/5401080.html)
5. [陈可辛新片《亲爱的》杀青 赵薇短发素颜出镜, 中新网](https://www.chinanews.com/yl/2014/06-10/6265356.shtml)
6. [《亲爱的》首日入账3700万 预测终极票房超3亿, 人民网](https://culture.people.com.cn/n/2014/0928/c1013-25755020.html)
7. [Busan's Asia Star Awards honours Chan, Screen Daily](https://www.screendaily.com/busans-asia-star-awards-honours-chan/5078285.article)
8. [The Venice-Toronto Express: Three Films at Two Festivals, Time](https://time.com/3274257/good-kill-hungry-hearts-dearest-reviews/)
9. [《亲爱的》影评（中国作家网转载）](https://wyb.chinawriter.com.cn/attachment/201410/22/ebd13f49-0bb1-42c2-8db3-e20edf46b745.pdf)
10. [陈可辛专访：大明星市场是全球电影工业的规矩, 电影界](https://www.dianyingjie.com.cn/2014/0928/1030.shtml)
11. [电影档案《亲爱的》, 凤凰娱乐](https://ent.ifeng.com/a/detail_2014_09/27/38934185_0.shtml)
12. [Peter Ho-Sun Chan unveils Dearest, Screen Daily](https://www.screendaily.com/news/peter-ho-sun-chan-unveils-dearest/5072921.article)
13. [陈可辛新片9月上映 赵薇纯素颜出演"农村母亲", 中新网](https://www.chinanews.com/yl/2014/06-10/6264883.shtml)
14. [Toronto 2014 unveils first wave, Screen Daily](https://www.screendaily.com/toronto/toronto-2014-unveils-first-wave/5075454.article)
15. [《亲爱的》首日1200万票房, 凤凰网](https://news.ifeng.com/c/7fo4SIvnnwk)
16. [《亲爱的》票房口碑俱佳, 搜狐娱乐](https://yule.sohu.com/20141008/n404910723.shtml)
17. [Global box office: The Equalizer adds up to so-so numbers, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/oct/01/global-box-office-the-equalizer-denzel-washington)
18. [Dearest review, Screen Daily](https://www.screendaily.com/dearest/5076761.article)
19. [《亲爱的》票房破亿 陈可辛现实题材电影震撼院线, 凤凰网娱乐](https://ent.ifeng.com/c/7dwfIIR10Xr)
20. [Peter Chan filmography PDF, We Pictures](https://www.wepictures.com/upload/files/production/20190305145600_1.pdf)
21. [《亲爱的》制作方发表声明称电影剧本与《失孤》无关联, 界面新闻](https://www.jiemian.com/article/278203.html)
22. [遥遥无期的回家路, 新安全（人民网）](https://paper.people.com.cn/xaq/html/2015-02/01/content_1543105.htm)
23. [星岛日报（2021年12月17日）关于孙海洋寻子报道](https://www.scdnews.com/images/paper/211217/211217D.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Drama and biographical films (individual works) › Drama films 2010 to 2014 › Psychological and social drama films*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license