‘Once Upon a Time in the Middle East’ US Trailer – China’s Submission

“All I wanted to do was go home.” Well Go USA has revealed a new US trailer for a Chinese film titled Once Upon a Time in the Middle East, telling the story of a Chinese restaurant in the Middle East that gets caught up in the middle of a war. This already opened in China in August, and it’s their official submission to the Academy Awards this year. Interesting pick. The original title translates to Welcome to the Loong Restaurant. One of China’s biggest stars, Shen Teng, leads this acclaimed box office sensation about a chef who transforms a struggling restaurant into a refuge shelter & risks it all to protect his community. The anti-war film (also very anti-America) tells the story of Xu Fu, a philanthropic chef at a Chinese restaurant in the fictional city of Bahata in the Middle East. When a war erupts with the United States (who are seen as the villains), he transforms his restaurant into a refuge for a group of orphans trapped in the city, but he is caught in the crossfire. Whereas most war films mainly focus on heroism & battles, this one tells a humane story of ordinary civilians struggling to survive. The full cast includes Jiang Qiming, Omar Sharif, Aarif Lee Zhi-ting, and Sherif Sabby. Looks like it actually has a wholesome message about how food matters. // Continue Reading ›