Little Voice (1998)

Little Voice is a 1998 British drama film with music written and directed by Mark Herman. The screenplay is based on the play The Rise and Fall of Little Voice by Jim Cartwright.

Set primarily in a lower-middle-class home where the fuses constantly blow and what little food there is in the refrigerator has turned rancid, the film tells the story of lonely, shy, agoraphobic young Laura, commonly known as Little Voice, who seems to display many of the symptoms of selective mutism, a rare anxiety disorder similar to social phobia. She spends her time obsessively listening to her deceased father's extensive collection of vintage recordings by such all-time singing greats as Edith Piaf, Judy Garland, and Shirley Bassey. Impersonating their performances is her only source of joy, life, and escape from her boozy, abusive mother, Mari.

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 shows interest in her, even returning to the house to deliver information pamphlets. Her life of solitude is turned upside down when Ray Say, a manager of third-rate acts, becomes romantically involved with her mother and, upon recognizing Little Voice's amazing talent, attempts to make her the star she doesn't want to be. He convinces Mr. Boo to showcase her at his seedy nightclub, where the girl, overcoming her fear by imagining her father is in the audience, presents a succession of show-stopping numbers that has the crowd clamoring for more.

Complications ensue when the girl retreats into her private world and refuses to participate in a heavily-hyped second appearance attended by a top London press agent. In the aftermath of Little Voice failing to perform, the family house catches fire destroying the record collection. Little Voice's soulmate, Billy, who is also a pigeon fancier, ultimately saves her both literally and figuratively.

It stars Michael Caine, Brenda Blethyn, Ewan McGregor, Jim Broadbent and Jane Horrocks in the title role.