Hearing ‘Her’ Voice - A Study of Female Music Narrative in the Film Her Story

Abstract

In recent years, many excellent feminist films have emerged in China. This study takes the film Her Story directed by Shao Yihui as the object to analyze how it integrates musical narrative and feminism to build a unique female music narrative system. The film uses sound montage and distinctive music inserts. Music and other means present the life difficulties and emotional exploration processes faced by three women of different ages. Music has become a key medium for them to self-examine, realize emotional catharsis, establish connections with each other and even achieve empowerment. The study analyzes the dual metaphorical function of music in the film and how to help female characters achieve self-expression and growth. It also explores the setting of male characters as “voiceless people” in the film. The study believes that the musical narrative in Her Story expands the dimension of feminist films in Chinese films and provides a new model for the interpretation of contemporary women’s films.