Chinese film “Once Upon a Time in the Middle East,” also known as “Welcome to the Dragon Restaurant,” will represent the Chinese mainland in the race for best international feature at the 99th Academy Awards, the film’s official Weibo account announced yesterday. The film follows Xu Fu, a chef who travels to the Middle East to open a Chinese restaurant and pay off his debts. As war engulfs the area, he becomes involved in protecting local children. Director Wen Muye said the story was inspired by Chinese people who opened restaurants in the region. Among them are Liu Lei and Shuai Xuejun, two young men from Shenzhen whose real-life experiences helped shape the film