LITTLE LORRAINE (2025)

Little Lorraine (2025), is a Canadian international cocaine smuggling true story crime drama set in the small seaside fishing villlage of the same name during the ’80s.

The story centres around the story of father/husband Jimmy (portrayed by Stephen Amell) and his uncle Huey (Stephen McHattie) after an explosion shuts down the small village’s coal mining operation – Huey starts up a ‘fishing operation’ that becomes the cover for importing cocaine from South America, which is a surprise to Jimmy and the rest of the crew upon making their first at sea collection.

Forced to continue the operation without other avenues of income available, things start to unravel when the coastguard inspects the boat on the way back from a collection and one of the crew members confesses to the local priest (Sean Astin).

With a meager $5 million dollar budget, the film does quite well. There are some story-pacing issues, but the authentic characters and brilliant acting makes up for the film’s shortcomings. I felt the authenticity in the production design by Krystyna Byers alongside ensuring that wardrobe, locations and dialect reflected the time accurately helped immensely – I’m unsure if local Nova Scotians would agree, but for the purposes of review, I was convinced.

Directed by first time feature filmmaker, Andy Hines (who is actually from Nova Scotia) – Little Lorraine (2025) is a cold reminder that Canadians, while welcoming and friendly, have deeply placed values in family and honour.

Alice (Kaelen Ohm) alongside Emma (Auden Thornton) in the film Little Lorraine (2025).
Film Still: Photon Films

Sean Astin arrives to a press event for the Canadian film Little Lorraine (2025) at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Toronto, Canada (September 4th – 14th, 2025).
Photo Credit: Bev Belanger for SERIAL SEAN

Stephen Amell arrives to a press event for the Canadian film Little Lorraine (2025) at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Toronto, Canada (September 4th – 14th, 2025).
Photo Credit: Bev Belanger for SERIAL SEAN