A Chinese film about the war in Iraq has grossed more than 1 billion yuan
The Chinese film *Once Upon a Time in the Middle East*, whose plot alludes to the war in Iraq, had grossed more than 1 billion yuan—or about 148 million U.S. dollars—at the box office as of Monday. The film was released on August 11; it was shot primarily in China and is also being distributed overseas, according to the South China Morning Post.
The film is set in the 2000s in a country that is not explicitly named. It depicts the invasion by American troops. The main character is Xu Fu, a Chinese chef who is working to pay off his debts at the start of the war. He turns his small restaurant into a shelter for local orphans and, at the same time, a bar for American soldiers.
According to the plot, the protagonist’s business is destroyed, and Xu Fu himself is imprisoned by the Americans and local armed groups. Despite the trauma he has endured, he tries to protect the children from the conflict. Chinese state media reported that the film is based on the real-life experiences of several Chinese restaurant owners who survived the war in Iraq.
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The Yuyuan Tantian channel, affiliated with the state-run CCTV, called the film a sign that China is beginning to shape its own narrative. The channel also claimed that for decades, the West has dominated the definition of terms such as “terrorism,” “freedom,” and “human rights,” while Chinese cinema is dismantling Hollywood’s war narratives.
Jodi Wen, a researcher at Tsinghua University’s Center for International Security and Strategy, stated that the film gives an international audience insight into Beijing’s long-standing anti-war stance and reflects China’s changing role in the Middle East, where it has its own interests. In her view, the film is not a direct promotion of Chinese policy in the region, but it reflects Beijing’s emphasis on human security and the resolution of humanitarian crises.
Wen also said that the film does not portray all American military personnel in a purely negative light, but it does link the root cause of suffering and disasters to overly harsh U.S. intervention. In her view, the film deliberately avoids portraying China as the “savior” of the Middle East. The Chaoyang Shaoxia channel, which, according to the publication, is believed to be affiliated with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the film demonstrates the kindness of the Chinese people regardless of their political views.
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