Little Voice

Little Voice

Year: 1998

Runtime: 97 min

Language: English

Director: Mark Herman

DramaComedyRomanceMusic

A shy and talented young woman with a remarkable gift for imitating famous singers finds her life changing when a respected London agent discovers her. Encouraged to embrace her abilities, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, finding the confidence to pursue her passion and ultimately discover her own unique voice.

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Timeline & Setting – Little Voice (1998)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Little Voice (1998). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Late 1990s

The events unfold in late 1990s Britain, capturing a pre-digital era of live performance and small-time showbusiness. The setting centers on clubs, loans, and the fragile path from obscurity to stardom, all within a working-class milieu. The period mood emphasizes grit, resilience, and the gaze of talent scouts who could change a life overnight.

Location

Scarborough, London

Scarborough is a seaside town in Yorkshire, where LV's modest home grounds the story in a tight-knit, working-class environment. The Hoff family’s flat embodies the domestic challenge of balancing grief with daily life. London appears as the distant hub of the talent industry, where agents scout acts and promise fame. The contrast between Scarborough’s intimate realism and London’s glittering ambition highlights class tensions and the pull between private life and stage dreams.

🏠 Working-class 🗺️ Coastal town

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:29

Main Characters – Little Voice (1998)

Meet the key characters of Little Voice (1998), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

LV (Jane Horrocks)

Laura Hoff, known as LV, is an extremely shy, reclusive young woman who escapes into songs and impersonations of famous artists. Her father’s death deepens her grief, and music becomes her primary source of strength. She hides in her bedroom, using records to inhabit the voices she admires and to cope with the world outside. Her quiet, observant nature drives the emotional core of the story.

🎭 Introverted 🎵 Gifted 💔 Grieving 🕊️ Independent

Mari (Brenda Blethyn)

Mari is LV’s loud, domineering mother, a self-centered presence who shows little sympathy for LV’s reticence or grief. She becomes entangled in Ray’s schemes and is driven by a desire for status and approval. Her actions include manipulating situations to push LV toward the limelight and destroying LV’s father’s records in revenge. Their relationship reveals a corrosive dynamic of control and ambition.

💢 Domineering 🎭 Dramatic 🧭 Ambitious

Billy (Michael Caine)

Billy is a shy, awkward telephone engineer who also raises homing pigeons. He forms a quiet but meaningful bond with LV when he installs a new line in her flat. He provides a steady, compassionate presence amid the chaos of her household and the showbiz pressures. His warmth offers a counterbalance to Mari’s volatility and LV’s fear of performing.

🐦 Gentle 💡 Thoughtful 🤝 Loyal

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:29

Major Themes – Little Voice (1998)

Explore the central themes of Little Voice (1998), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎭 Voice

LV’s voice is both a shield and a doorway to the wider world. Her impressions reveal a prodigious gift, yet the stage fright and personal fears keep her hidden. The tension between private self and public persona drives the plot, raising questions about exploitation and authenticity. The theme explores how art can liberate, but also expose vulnerability when pushed too far.

💔 Family Struggle

Mari’s domineering presence stifles LV’s autonomy and fuels ongoing conflict. The mother-daughter dynamic oscillates between coercion and fragile moments of care, never fully reconciling. Mari’s pursuit of status through Ray exposes how family ties can intersect with ambition and manipulation. The destruction of LV’s father’s records marks a turning point in their fraught relationship.

🧭 Self-Discovery

LV’s arc moves from dependence to independence as she tests the boundaries set by others. Her decision to reject further pressure and to claim her own identity marks a pivotal shift in the story. The line “it's Laura” signals a reclaiming of agency and name. The journey emphasizes personal growth through art, risk, and the courage to walk away.

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:29

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Little Voice Summary

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Little Voice Summary

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Little Voice Timeline

More About Little Voice

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