A-list actress Yao Chen once said that she was conflicted and struggling to find few roles fit for actresses once they turn middle aged.

So she founded her own studio and investing in films, describing the move as a "detour" to create and cast characters that she is really interested in.

Send Me to the Clouds, the directorial debut of 1985-born filmmaker Teng Congcong, is one such work.

The film, produced by Yao's own company Bad Rabbit Pictures, opened across Chinese mainland on Aug 16.

Though the title is inspired by a poem taken from the 18th-century classic novel Dream of the Red Chamber, the film is a modern examination of the struggles of educated, independent women.

Protagonist Sheng Nan is a journalist yearning for true love, but is unfortunately diagnosed with ovarian cancer. To raise 3 million yuan ($42,700) for surgery, she takes a job writing a biography of a businessman's father, sparking an amazing journey to make her re-discover her own true self and achieve a sense of peace and acceptance towards her life.

The film also stars actors Yuan Hong, Li Jiuxiao and actress Wu Yufang.

Yao recently revealed the movie marks her first time working as an executive producer.

Since the premiere on August 12 in Beijing, some critics are already hailing that the film bravely looks into the sexual desire of women, a theme that few films have ever touched.