ABSTRACT
Music in fiction film helps the audience to relax and fully engage with the stories unfolding before them. With this in mind, theorists have developed a rich and productive discourse that demonstrates the unique narrative, emotional and practical power of music in fiction film. But what happens when the images presented are promoted as ‘real’; as a (mediated) representation of the world beyond the camera? What can be the role of music in such a world? As soundtracks become an increasingly important part of documentary filmmaking, questions of authenticity, authorship, audibility and reception are pushed into the foreground.
