Once Upon a Time in the Middle East

"Once upon a time in the Middle East" has become a blockbuster in China. It follows a debt-ridden Chinese chef who travels to the Middle East to make money, only to find himself caught between war and peace, life and death. He is no Hollywood superhero. He's an ordinary man. And that is the point. The film turns an epic story into something deeply human: food for everyone, children protected from conflicts, and ordinary people simply trying to survive. As Chinese people live and work across the world and wars continue to threaten lives, the film has struck a chord far beyond China, speaking to hearts as much as minds. Now, as the film reaches cinemas around the world, I spoke with its director and screenwriter, Wen Muye. Why did he choose war and an ordinary Chinese chef to tell this story?