Ay, Carmela! vs Once Upon a Time in the Middle East
Once Upon a Time in the Middle East has the higher audience score (9.2/10 against 6.7/10 for Ay, Carmela!). Ay, Carmela! is the shorter watch at 1h 42m compared with 2h 20m. Ay, Carmela! is the older of the two (1990 against 2026). Both are drama, war movies, so they suit a similar mood.
Ay, Carmela!
Once Upon a Time in the Middle East| Ay, Carmela! | Once Upon a Time in the Middle East | |
|---|---|---|
| Audience score | ★ 6.7/10 | ★ 9.2/10 |
| Year | 1990 | 2026 |
| Length | 1h 42m | 2h 20m |
| Genres | Comedy, Drama, War | Drama, War |
| Country | – | – |
| Director | Carlos Saura | Wen Muye |
| Main cast | Carmen Maura, José Sancho, Armando De Razza, Felipe García Vélez, Miguel Rellán | Aarif Rahman, Jiang Qiming, Wei Qing, Michael Koltes, Zhang Xiwei |
Synopsis
Ay, Carmela!
During the Spanish Civil War, a group of comics lightens the days of the Republican troops. Tired of life in the front lines, they make their way to Valencia, accidentally entering enemy land and falling prisoner.
Once Upon a Time in the Middle East
Xu Fu travels to the Middle East to work as a chef in a Chinese restaurant to pay off family debts, where he meets floor manager Ma Junsheng. Their Dragon Restaurant rises to fame, attracting crowds with authentic‑tasting Chinese food. But war breaks out, and local conditions take a drastic turn for the worse. No one can remain unaffected. What lies ahead for them? And how will the Dragon Restaurant hold on amid the war?
Where to watch
Where to watch Ay, Carmela!Where to watch Once Upon a Time in the Middle East
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