diff --git a/deepface/commons/functions.py b/deepface/commons/functions.py
index 81a2753..d04d71c 100644
--- a/deepface/commons/functions.py
+++ b/deepface/commons/functions.py
@@ -103,7 +103,15 @@ def load_image(img):
     if os.path.isfile(img) is not True:
         raise ValueError(f"Confirm that {img} exists")
 
-    return cv2.imread(img)
+    # For reading images with unicode names
+    with open(img, "rb") as img_f:
+        chunk = img_f.read()
+        chunk_arr = np.frombuffer(chunk, dtype=np.uint8)
+        img = cv2.imdecode(chunk_arr, cv2.IMREAD_COLOR)
+
+    return img
+    # This causes troubles when reading files with non english names
+    # return cv2.imread(img)
 
 
 # --------------------------------------------------