Premiering at TIFF 2025’s Discovery Programme, Little Lorraine (2025) is a strong debut from director Andy Hines. Based on a true story and Adam Baldwin’s song “Lighthouse in Little Lorraine,” the film is set within a very distinct Canadian landscape, geographically and emotionally.

Experienced through the eyes of three best friends (Stephen Amell, Joshua Close, Steve Lund), Little Lorraine tells the true tale of how this unlikely story was born, prospered and imploded over a season in the life of this township.

Setting the Scene

Between 1986 and 1990, the town of Little Lorraine (Cape Breton) was caught up in an international cocaine smuggling operation under the noses of multiple governments and federal agencies, distributing drugs and money in coffins driven around in hearses by a network of funeral homes.

Set in this small coastal town in Nova Scotia during the mid-1980s, Little Lorraine starts in the midst of a coal mine explosion that impacts hugely on the community. Work disappears overnight, and with it, a sense of stability. Jimmy (Stephen Amell) finds himself navigating uncertainty and caught between responsibility to his family and the pressure of a town running out of options.

When his uncle Huey (Stephen McHattie) presents what feels like a win-win opportunity, Jimmy eventually gets pushed into a covert smuggling operation embedded in the quiet daily life in Little Lorraine. As the stakes keep getting higher, Jimmy becomes aware this is a very dangerous game they’re trapped in. A game that will put them and their families at risk too. Caught in this dilemma, Jimmy become resourceful and find ways to navigate the treacherous waters they trio have unknowingly entered. With each passing moment, the risks increase, and Jimmy must find a way to get everyone away from his uncle’s shady schemes before they all become forever entangled in a fate no one saw coming.

Interview with Olivia Hines, Costume Designer

While at TIFF 2025, I had the opportunity to speak with costume designer Olivia Hines. Here she provides great insights into planning the look of the characters in the film while also capturing the town’s essence in the mid-1980s.

Hye’s Thoughts on the Film

From my screening of the film and conversation with Olivia Hines, it is clear a lot of thoughtfulness went into bringing this story to the big screen. It is also evident that Andy Hines’ roots in Nova Scotia deeply influenced this story.

The look of the film is carefully constructed to put us not only in that time period, but also in that very location. There’s a lived-in quality to everything, from the colour palette to the quiet pacing of everyday life, that serves as another means to witness the danger and drama unfolding.

I appreciate the initial pacing in Little Lorraine since it serves to further the plot along without offering overt explanations for every action taken. The cast also carries a lot of weight in terms of story development. It is always a treat to see Stephen McHattie on a big screen; here, he excels as being the man with dubious intentions. Aside from the trio of friends, the supporting performances by Auden Thornton (Emma, Jimmy’s wife), J Balvin (Lozano), Rhys Darby (Tim) and Sean Astin (Father Williams) give us a glimpse into more complex and important community members.

There were some moment where I wished we could get to know more of the town’s characters. As the drama unfolds, some moments feel rushed, especially towards the end. Nonetheless, there is still honesty to the story and how it is portrayed. Every single detail is not always explained; giving the audience space to think about the characters’ choices.

Hines’ direction relies on atmosphere and the actors’ performances. Jeff Powers‘ cinematography treats the town as an additional character. The coastal landscapes and tight-knit community dynamics add to the strength in narrative. The production (Krystyna Byers) and costume design (Olivia Hines) along with the soundtrack add to the film’s period feel.

The film feels grounded. There is tension where there needs to be until, inevitably, the tension can no longer be sustained. The result is an accumulation of choices that, for better or worse, affect many people’s lives for a long time to come.

Little Lorraine serves as a good feature debut for a filmmaker interested in stories influenced by truth, place, and memory.

Photos courtesy of Photon Films.