CultureChinese anti-war film challenges Hollywood’s storytelling conventions

The Chinese anti-war film Once Upon a Time in the Middle East has drawn discussion on overseas social media ahead of its international release. It follows Xu Fu, a Chinese chef trying to save lives amid war in the Middle East, shifting attention from Hollywood’s familiar Western soldier or rescuer to ordinary people affected by conflict and questioning established storytelling formulas and values.

Chinese filmanti-war filmHollywoodwar storytelling

CCGTN★★☆☆☆2026-08-16 08:50Original