Film reveals horrors of war through a Chinese cook's eyes

"Once Upon a Time in the Middle East," starring actor Shen Teng, brings a harrowing war experience to the big screen, reflecting on conflict in the region through the eyes of a Chinese restauranteur.

Cast and crew of "Once Upon a Time in the Middle East" pose for a photo at a promotional event in Changchun, Jilin province, Aug. 19, 2026. [Photo courtesy of Askwin]

As China's hottest comedian, Shen's face on a poster with the Chinese title "Welcome to Dragon Restaurant" led many cinemagoers to mistake the film for a summer comedy blockbuster. But when they entered theaters to watch it, they found themselves presented with a movie that portrays the horrors of war from an ordinary Chinese person's perspective.

Directed by Wen Muye, "Once Upon a Time in the Middle East" follows Chinese chef Xu Fu played by Shen Teng, who travels to the Middle East to earn money to repay his debts. There, he meets restaurant manager Ma Junsheng played by Jiang Qiming, and together they run the Dragon Restaurant serving Chinese cuisine. Just as the business begins to take off, war suddenly breaks out, forcing the two into chaos as they face a test of survival and moral choices.

The film challenges stereotypes with a new, thought-provoking take on war and peace, showing how ordinary people struggle, survive and hold onto their humanity amid war and death.

Wen, known for realist blockbusters "Dying to Survive" (2018) and "Nice View" (2022), has consistently balanced box-office appeal with personal expression, always seeking to highlight the humanity within ordinary people. 

The filmmaker began developing the script shortly after completing "Dying to Survive." Plans were originally for the crew to shoot on location, but due to conflict in the region, the team instead built the sets in China. To recreate the look and feel of the Middle East, over 100,000 square meters of sets were constructed, including an ancient city, prison and castle, replicating more than 200 buildings, with every detail crafted to evoke an authentic sense of time and place.

Food, a symbol of care, love, hope and peace, becomes a recurring motif in the film.

The production team tested more than 20 dishes to authentically bring Chinese cuisine to the screen, with food design closely tied to the characters and setting. Menus were adjusted for local tastes while preserving Chinese techniques, and every dish shown is real and edible, serving both the story and a sense of everyday life.

Director Wen offered a simple yet deep reflection: "In chef Xu Fu's eyes, nothing matters more than enjoying a good meal." In the context of war, food becomes more than set dressing — it is a medium for emotional connection, a way to bridge divides and a statement about survival and peace in extreme circumstances.

"Once Upon a Time in the Middle East" was also a project under the Filmed for IMAX program, the director said, adding that he hoped to use the immersive audiovisual experience to convey the characters' emotions amid the intertwining of war and everyday life.

Wen recalled how the character Seif, played by young Egyptian actor Omar Sherif, deeply moved him during filming. From playfully joking with chef Xu Fu with a toy gun at the start to losing an eye and witnessing the horrors of war, Seif gradually loses his childhood innocence and becomes a powerful reminder of how war damages children.

A poster for "Once Upon a Time in the Middle East." [Image courtesy of Dirty Monkeys Studio]

The film has generated rave reviews and interest both domestically and overseas since its debut in China on Aug. 11. It earned an 8.6/10 score based on more than 432,000 user reviews on Chinese review aggregation website Douban, with some viewers even calling for an Oscar nomination.

"Once Upon a Time in the Middle East" had grossed more than 1.35 billion yuan by Aug. 20 as China's film market gathers pace with domestic and international releases. The film has held the top spot at the box office in the country since its debut, fending off recent releases including the Hollywood blockbuster "The Odyssey." Its staying power has made it one of the key domestic releases driving the second half of China's summer movie season.

The director also announced on Thursday that the film will be released internationally starting in September.