Beyonce Reflects on Family, Music, Feminism in Haunting Retrospective Film

Beyoncé has shared an emotional and visually stunning retrospective film, “Yours and Mine,” to celebrate the one-year anniversary of her acclaimed 2013 LP, Beyoncé. The 11-minute feature finds the singer reflecting on the beauty of feminism, the downsides of fame, the wonder of her marriage to husband Jay Z and the importance of pursuing her creative passions. 

“I sometimes wish I could just be anonymous and walk down a street, just like everyone else,” Beyoncé narrates to open the film. “Now that I’m famous, it’s really, really difficult to do very simple things. I think it’s the hardest thing to give up, but my mother always taught me to be strong and to never be a victim, never make excuses, never expect anyone else to provide for me things that I can provide for myself. I have dreams, and I feel like I have a power to make those dreams actually become a reality.”

The visuals grow increasingly dramatic, including shots of burning cars and the singer sharing an intimate car ride with Jay Z. 

“I grew up with a lot of conflict and traumas, and I’ve been through a lot, just like everyone else,” she says. “My escape was always music, and I’m so lucky that that’s my job. But if I accomplished all of these things and had no one to share it with, it would be worth nothing. You know you need something real in order for any of this stuff to matter. You have to have something that is forever, something that’s invisible.”

Beyoncé ends the film by summarizing all the great things in her life and emphasizing that she’s “no longer afraid of the unknown.”

Last week, the singer’s self-titled LP secured a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. She also became the most nominated female in Grammy history, passing Dolly Parton, after picking up a nod for Best Urban Contemporary Album. Her six nominations made her the sixth most-nominated artist of all time, passing producer David Foster.

In November, Beyoncé released a “Platinum Edition” of her latest album featuring two new tracks (“7/11,” “Ring Off”), along with all-star remixes featuring Kanye West, Pharrell, Nicki Minaj and Mr. Vegas. The release also includes music videos, a 2015 mini-calendar, a DVD chronicling her expansive Mrs. Carter World Tour and two photo books.