Release Year: 2004
Original title: L'étrange destin du colonel Jin Xing
Synopsis:
"L'étrange destin du colonel Jin Xing" (2004), a documentary by Sylvie Levey and Pascal Vasselin, delves into the life of one of China's most unique and trailblazing figures, Jin Xing. A renowned ballerina, modern dancer, choreographer, and actress, Jin Xing's life story is a testament to resilience, transformation, and the courage to challenge societal norms. From her early years in China to her transition as a transgender woman and her rise as a cultural icon, the documentary offers an intimate portrayal of a woman who has defied conventions in both the worlds of dance and gender.
Born in 1967 in Shenyang, China, to an ethnic Korean family, Jin Xing showed an early aptitude for the arts. Her mother was a translator, and her father served as a military intelligence officer. Raised in a family that valued intellectual prowess and discipline, Jin was encouraged to excel academically. However, her passion for dance became apparent at a young age.
At just 9 years old, Jin Xing joined the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), where she received both military and dance training as part of a troupe affiliated with the Shenyang Military Region. By the time she turned 12, Jin had transferred to the prestigious People's Liberation Army Art Academy, where she honed her craft in classical dance. After graduating in 1984, she returned to the military dance troupe and was promoted to the rank of colonel—a rare achievement for a dancer, particularly a woman, in China at the time.
Jin’s discipline and dedication were evident in her performances, and her talent soon gained national attention. Her victory in a national dance competition, where she performed a Central Asian ethnic dance piece, further cemented her status as a rising star in China’s dance scene.
