Dear Tenant poster
#4685 This Week

Dear Tenant

Dear Tenant  ·  2020, Taiwan
7.2
4,069 ratings
1
Film
0
Watchlisted
● Completed 🕑 2020

For the past five years, Lin has been looking after the son, Yo Yu, and the elderly mother, Mrs. Chou, of his deceased boyfriend, Li Wei. They live together like a family, and it is Lin's way of remembering Li Wei -…

Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Episodes
Reviews (5)

For five years, Lin has quietly built a life around love and loss. After the tragic death of his boyfriend, Li Wei, Lin chooses to honor his memory by becoming the sole caretaker of Li Wei's aging mother, Mrs. Chou, and his young son, Yo Yu. This makeshift family finds fragile happiness in their shared grief—until a crisis forces them into an impossible legal battle. When a social worker questions Lin's right to keep the family together, long-buried secrets, societal prejudice, and the aching question of what truly makes a parent come to a head. More than a romance, *Dear Tenant* is a poignant, award-winning mystery that unspools through flashbacks and courtroom drama, exploring how love can persist across life, death, and identity itself. Prepare for a masterful Taiwanese film that is as much a tearjerker as it is a powerful statement on queer resilience and the many forms a family can take.

Episode data is coming soon.

7.2
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heart_in_flames
March 2025
9/10
I went in expecting to cry, but I wasn't ready for how much Lin's silent devotion would wreck me. The love he carries for Li Wei—even after death—is the most romantic thing I've ever seen. The scenes with little Yo Yu had me sobbing. This is what real love looks like, not just pretty dates.
CE
critical_eye_reviews
Jan 14, 2026
7/10
The acting is top-notch, but the pacing drags in the first hour. Some mystery elements feel forced, and the open ending left me frustrated rather than moved. I appreciate the social commentary, but as a film structure, it could have been tighter. Still, worth watching for Morning Mo alone.
QL
queer_lens_activist
November 2024
10/10
This film is essential viewing. It lays bare how the legal system and society strip queer people of the right to call themselves parents, even when they've been the only stable guardian. The pain of 'Dad Mark II' broke me. A necessary, unflinching look at homophobia and family—must-watch for any ally.
LA
lens_and_light
September 2025
9/10
The visual storytelling here is stunning. Every frame is painted in muted blues and grays that mirror Lin's internal despair, yet small warm lights appear during moments of hope. The courtroom scene blocking and the flashback transitions are masterful. A beautiful, painful film that uses color as an emotional language.
MO
melody_of_sorrow
April 2025
8/10
The music is surprisingly sparse, but that's exactly what makes it so effective. When the piano finally swells during the custody hearing scene, it hits like a freight train. The few tracks used linger with you long after credits roll. Wish there was a full OST release—I'd buy it in a heartbeat.