French actress Juliette Binoche visits Beijing for the 2025 Beijing Cultural Forum, sharing her dance documentary “In-I In Motion” and deepening France-China cultural ties.
“I always feel joyful and excited when I come to China. I love the scenery and the food,” said French film star Juliette Binoche on September 23. She appeared at Peking University and the China Film Archive to attend the 2025 Beijing Cultural Forum’s France-China Image Dialogue series.
Documenting Dance: In-I In Motion
Her new documentary, In-I In Motion, follows Binoche’s collaboration with choreographer Akram Khan on the 2007 dance production À l’Intérieur de Moi (In My Depth). The film captures their rehearsal process and global tour. It shows how ideas and persistence shape art. The first part of the film focuses on six months of rehearsals between Binoche and Khan. The second part follows them on stage during live performances.
Binoche revealed that the footage was shot around 2007. Her sister, Marianne Stalens, recorded the entire rehearsal process and the final seven performances. Binoche worked with three editors to shape 170 hours of footage into a structured film. “We first selected the material and cut a nine-hour version,” she said. Without a set script, she treated the editing process as another stage of creation. She carefully chose 200 key images, pinned them on a wall, and gradually formed the structure of the film. Unlike most documentaries, she avoided narration, giving viewers space to interpret the story themselves.
Views on Love and Art
On the topic of intimacy in dance, Binoche shared her views on love: “It’s easy to be swept away by passion, but lasting love is harder. You need wisdom. You create space for each other, accept differences, and embrace imperfections.”
She also offered advice to young artists: trust your instincts, listen to your inner voice, and follow the feelings that are unique to you. For her, the most valuable part of creativity is finding direction amid confusion and strength through struggle.
A Strong Connection with China
Binoche has visited Beijing many times. She has danced at the Mei Lanfang Theatre, sung at the National Centre for the Performing Arts, signed books for fans, and promoted films. Each trip, she says, makes her feel like a curious child discovering Chinese culture with fresh excitement. She also hopes to return for more collaborations and to help deepen film exchanges between France and China.
Additional reporting by Beijing Daily, CNS.
If you liked this article, why not read: Movie “731” Ranks Among Top 5 Box-office Earners
