Based on the true story that inspired the lyrics to Adam Baldwin’s song of the same name, Little Lorraine is a fascinating mixture of truth and fiction. Set between 1986-1990, the film takes place in Little Lorraine, a North Atlantic seaside town that espouses family values and hard work. It’s here that Jimmy (Stephen Amell), Jake (Steve Lund) and their friends try to make an honest living to support their family at a time of financial struggle.
But the arrival of Jimmy’s estranged uncle (Stephen McHattie) upends their quiet lives with an offer: make a few simple deliveries and solve their money problems at the same time. Backed against the wall, Jimmy and his friends accept the offer but soon find out that they’re in deeper than they’d ever accepted.
Directed by Andy Hines, the film is based on true events that no one seems willing to confirm or deny. It is known that Little Lorraine was the center of a cocaine ring in the late 80s and early 90s. But, as he was preparing for the film, the secrets within remained on lockdown.
Even now, almost four decades later, the truth is still out there.
However, as a result, Hines has plenty of room to play with his story. Though set in the heart of the Canadian Maritimes, this is the sort of story that feels like it should be from the streets of New York or Los Angeles. Tales of the criminal underworld seem incongruent with the scenic waterfronts and pleasantries of the Maritimes but Lorraine taps into the fact that human frailties are everywhere.
With a unique blend of grit and warmth, Hines weaves a story that deals with man’s battles within himself when things go wrong. And, in the end, Little Lorraine proves itself to be seaworthy. Hane’s strong script and solid performances ensure that this Canadian crime thriller’s unique blend of family and fury fires on all cylinders.
Little Lorraine is playing at TIFF ’25. For more information, click here.
