Little Voice
The pathetically shy LV lives the life of a recluse listening to her late fathers old records in her room and in the process driving her abusive…
- Director:Mark Herman
- Genre:Comedy | Drama | Romance | Music
- Runtime:97 minutes
Cast
Brenda Blethyn : Mari Hoff
Jane Horrocks : LV
Ewan McGregor : Billy
Philip Jackson : George
Annette Badland : Sadie
Set primarily in a working-class home in Scarborough where the fuses constantly blow and what little food there is in the refrigerator has turned rancid, the film narrates the story of reclusive, shy, agoraphobic young Laura Hoff, commonly known as Little Voice or LV, who seems to display many of the symptoms of selective mutism, a rare anxiety disorder similar to social phobia. Little Voice was given her nickname because of her shy retiring manner. She spends her time obsessively listening to her deceased father’s extensive array of vintage recordings by such all-time singing greats as Edith Piaf, Judy Garland, and Shirley Bassey. Impersonating their performances is an escape and her only source of unalloyed joy. Mari is a brazen woman who seduces many men, soon discarding them when her lust fades. Her hardest endeavours to find another man notwithstanding, Mari keeps failing to achieve this goal upon which she has set her heart.
A hint that Little Voice might be able to have a social life beyond her mother occurs when the family telephone has to be repaired, and meek assistant telephone installer Billy (Ewan McGregor) shows interest in her, even returning to the house to deliver information pamphlets. Her life of solitude is turned upside down when Ray Say (Michael Caine), a manager of third-rate acts, becomes romantically involved with her mother. He hears LV’s voice drifting down from her bedroom, he recognises her talent and determines to make her the star she does not long to be. Mari rejects the possibility her Little Voice is musically talented. She finds the music coming from LV’s room annoying, and never misses an occasion to berate her daughter quite caustically. Despite Mari’s disheartening reprimands, Ray Say prods his manager Mr. Boo (Jim Broadbent) into showcasing LV at his seedy nightclub, where the girl, overcoming her fear by imagining her father is sitting in the audience, presents a succession of show-stopping numbers which have the crowd clamouring for more. For example, LV’s voice is suffused with eroticism as she croons the prurient ballads which had been sung by Marilyn Monroe in days of yore while performing on stage. She also mimics the sonorous dulcet tones of Shirley Bassey and sings sundry other pieces of music with consummate skill, for example a piece indentified with Marlene Dietrich with that singer’slight German accent.
The first show which Little Voice gives seems to be the auspicious start of an ascent within the music business. Relishing the prospect of his career being given fresh impetus, Ray Say tries to encourage LV with empty promises. Read more
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