Entertainmentby Guy Lodge
China’s Oscar Entry ‘Once Upon a Time in the Middle East’ Reviewed
🤖 This content was generated and summarized with AI assistance based on the linked source — it is not a substitute for the original or professional advice.
Key Takeaways
- China submitted 'Once Upon a Time in the Middle East' for the Oscars.
- The film blends culinary visuals with large-scale wartime action.
- It features heavy state-backed propaganda and political undertones.
- Despite its flaws, critics find the blockbuster strangely watchable.
"Once Upon a Time in the Middle East" serves as a massive commercial showcase for China's film industry, featuring large-scale destruction and technical wizardry. The narrative follows a Chinese chef caught in the turmoil of the Iraq War, depicting China symbolically as a pacifistic guardian. While politically questionable and blatantly propagandistic, the film's breakneck pacing keeps audiences hooked.
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