L'Étrange destin du colonel Jin Xing

For us Czechs, the topic is somewhat distant – Jin Xing may be a recognized celebrity in China, but in Europe, she will remain an unknown figure. The theme of searching for sexual identity could have had the potential to engage if it had been presented in a more appealing manner. Here, the camera aimlessly follows the main character for long minutes with minimal commentary, as they walk down the street, drive a car, and so on. The only interesting moment in the documentary was the encounter with the father, a significant leader in the Chinese secret police and a conservatively-minded communist, who had to come to terms with his child's gender transition and new profession. Overall impression: 30%. (2007.08.28)