Once Upon a ...
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From food to war
China invited journalists from around the world, including Iran, to a screening of the film in late September.
The film moved almost all the viewers to tears, while also impressing them with its advanced visual and special effects and its tragic storyline.
The film crew, including director Wen Muye, later took the stage, giving journalists an opportunity to ask questions.
Iran Daily asked the director what had prompted him to explore the war genre and why he had chosen the Middle East as the setting for his story.
“I didn't actively set out to explore war-themed stories,” he said.
Wen said the idea for the film came to him in 2017, shortly after he completed his debut feature, Dying to Survive, another film centered on cancer and its treatment.
He said he came across a news report about Chinese people running restaurants in the Middle East, which prompted him to conduct further research. He subsequently discovered numerous real-life accounts of Chinese nationals operating restaurants in the region, and this discovery sparked his interest in developing the story.
“I felt that through the juxtaposition of food and war, there was room to explore my thoughts on war and peace, viewing disputes, conflicts and the plight of war orphans through the perspective of an ordinary Chinese chef.”
More than war film
China is often viewed as a neutral party in Middle Eastern conflicts, and the film could therefore also be interpreted as a metaphor for Beijing’s approach to conflicts in the region.
The main character refuses to become involved in violence and instead seeks to foster peace by bringing people together around a table for a proper meal, regardless of their views or affiliations.
He also goes to great lengths to prevent an orphaned boy’s anger from turning into violence.
Nevertheless, Wen said he had no intention of creating such a metaphor.
“I never really thought about what symbols the story might carry, nor did I approach it from that angle.”
The narrative, he told Iran Daily, is rooted entirely in its individual characters and centers on the personal perspective and unique experiences of an ordinary Chinese chef.
Although the film is categorized as a war movie, the director insists that war itself is not its central theme. Instead, the story focuses on food and human connections.
The phrase “eat properly” is repeated throughout the film, reflecting the filmmakers’ emphasis on the routines and simple concerns of everyday life.
The main character brings people together through food, regardless of their language, nationality or occupation.
Although the film is set in an Arab environment, its message can also resonate with Iranians who have experienced the consequences of war over the past year, not only in its military form but also through economic pressure.
The film also resonates with an aspect of Iranian culture in which sharing “bread and salt” symbolizes friendship and creates an understanding that those who have eaten together should not turn against one another.