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The Voice

Name: The Voice
Director: Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil
Released: 2008
Duration: 100 min

Representation Score

8.1/10

Excellent

2008

Director

Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil

Runtime

100 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The Voice offers a nuanced look at psychological resilience and socio-economic challenges. By focusing on a child navigating trauma through music, the film avoids simplistic clichés, especially concerning disability. The violin becomes a powerful symbol of empowerment for someone from a underrepresented community. However, the film lacks diverse identity representation and focuses primarily on a male-centric dynamic, with no visible exploration of LGBTQ+ identities or broader gender issues.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Voice have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not include any explicit LGBTQ+ identities. The story revolves around a mentorship between a musician and a child, which does not explore non-straight relationships.

How does The Voice portray gender?

Fair

The story centers on a male mentorship. However, it challenges traditional masculinity by highlighting emotional vulnerability and the importance of art over physical strength.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Voice?

Good

The film addresses economic disparities effectively. It gives a child from the slums ability to act through music, showing how art can empower those affected by systemic poverty.

How does The Voice represent religion and culture?

Good

The story critiques traditional family structures by depicting the father as a source of harm. It highlights systemic neglect and the failures of the nuclear family unit.

Does The Voice include disability representation?

Excellent

Onyok’s selective mutism is portrayed as a complex response to trauma rather than a disability. Music serves as a crucial tool for his communication and empowerment.

Present on Screen

Complex exploration of selective mutism and non-verbal communication.
Effective engagement with socio-economic disparities and class dynamics.
Challenges traditional masculine stereotypes through emotional vulnerability.

Limited or Absent

Absence of explicit LGBTQ+ representation or non-straight dynamics.
Limited focus on a male-centric mentorship structure.

Official Synopsis

Boses (Voices) is the story of a musician named Ariel who offers violin lessons to a child of the slums. Through the violin, the abused child Onyok is able to get back his voice from a mute, desensitized existence. A violin teacher and his student, a mute 7-year old abused child in a shelter, develop a friendship stemming from their love of music. Ariel discovers the immense talent of Onyok hiding behind a veneer of silence and pain caused by an unhappy and cruel father. In the developing relationship of teacher and student, both characters reveal more of themselves that otherwise may have remained unspoken. They discover each other's strengths and failures through the violin lessons.

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