Hesitant star

Yin Fang plays the leading character in Cui Jian's directorial debut movie Blue Sky Bones. Beijing-based Yin works as an independent dancer choreographer and seeks to be involved in more creative and collaborative projects. Photo provided to China Daily

The long-anticipated film, by award-winning Australian cinematographer Christopher Doyle (also known by his Chinese name Du Kefeng), got its global premiere at the Rome Film Festival in 2013, when it won the special jury prize. This year, the movie was nominated for best film in the Asian New Talent Award at the 17th Shanghai International Film Festival before it released on the Chinese mainland on Oct 17.

While some praised Cui's bold approach to tell a story by jumping into the backdrop of the "cultural revolution", others complained the movie is difficult to understand.

Cui, who is also the scriptwriter of the movie, said in an earlier interview, that he is fine with those who cannot share his spiritual world. "It's like some people who listen to pop music can't accept symphonic music, while symphonic music lovers can't enjoy pop songs," Cui says.

Yin also felt confused about the structure of the story at the beginning. "The movie is like the complicated thoughts of a person. Lots of emotions entangled together," says Yin, who has watched the movie six times so far. "The more I watch it, the more I am touched by the story."

His favorite part of the movie is its ending, when Zhong's father gives himself a funeral prior to his actual death. Standing naked amid high mountains, flowing river and under the blue sky, the man is finally relieved from his past. Yin says the film reinforced his belief in pursuing truth and taking life seriously.

The film has given Yin a taste of fame, and his image makes him seem like a natural heir to older heartthrobs in China. But Yin's brain yearns for more and he intentionally keeps some distance from the entertainment industry. Now, he is in Zurich attending a three-month artist residency program initiated by the Switzerland Cultural Foundation.

"Dancing onstage and acting in front of camera are totally different ways of expressing myself. I cannot tell which I like better. I just wanted to do something different from what I have already done," he says.

Born in Changsha, Hunan province, Yin came to study at the National Ballet of China in Beijing. In 2006, he graduated from Beijing Normal University, where he received double bachelors in the arts and management.

He once abandoned the idea of dancing but regained his passion after joining Beijing Dance Theater in 2008. He toured with the group around the world, performing pieces such as Martlet and On/Off the Road.

In 2012, he began to work as an independent dancer-choreographer, seeking to be involved in more creative and collaborative projects, such as the dance piece Genesis, a joint work with celebrated choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Chinese dancer-choreographer Wang Yabin in 2013. "I'm not the type who makes clear plans. It wasn't like I was waiting for a role, either as a dancer or an actor. It was destiny and I just followed my instinct," Yin says.