Key facts
- The film "Once Upon a Time in the Middle East" is China's submission for the 99th Academy Awards.
- The movie depicts a Chinese restaurant in Baghdad that became a refuge during the Iraq War.
- It has earned over 2.3 billion yuan (US$344 million) at the Chinese box office.
- The film is screening in over 120 theaters across North America.
A Chinese film titled "Once Upon a Time in the Middle East," which focuses on a Chinese restaurant in Baghdad that became a sanctuary during wartime, has been selected as China's official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards. Directed by Wen Muye and starring Shen Teng and Jiang Qiming, the movie follows Xu Fu, a chef who travels to the Middle East to open a restaurant. The film has achieved significant commercial success in China, grossing over 2.3 billion yuan (US$344 million) since its August 11 release. It recently premiered in North America with a limited theatrical run in over 120 theaters, offering audiences a different perspective on the Iraq War.