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The Lorraine

Play trailer The Lorraine 2026 1h 24m Documentary History Play Trailer Watchlist
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In the heart of Memphis, Walter and Loree Bailey's Lorraine Hotel was both a thriving hub of Black entrepreneurship and a destination for the greatest musicians of the 20th century -- a place where Civil Rights demonstrations were planned, musical hits were written, and Black and white artists created history together. A rare, black-owned establishment, The Lorraine served as a safe haven and sanctuary for Black travelers during the Jim Crow era. Then, on April 4, 1968, the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. outside Room 306 cleaved that history in two, and the world forgot everything else. Urgent yet deeply joyful, THE LORRAINE is both a reckoning with the Civil Rights Movement's unfinished legacy and a celebration of Black excellence and resilience. Renowned documentarian Sam Pollard uses archival footage and music along with the voices of those who lived it to vividly revive what was lost. The film ultimately becomes a story of reclamation: of space, history, and identity. Of transforming trauma into light. THE LORRAINE reminds us that history is never as neatly resolved as we're taught to believe, and that the fight for justice is still very much evolving.

Critics Reviews

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Sean Boelman FandomWire 3d
6/10
The first half of the movie, exploring an aspect of African-American history that isn’t written in the history books, is both entertaining and informative. Go to Full Review Stephen Silver The SS Ben Hecht 3d
Tells the compelling story of the motel, covering the many decades before and since. Go to Full Review Giovanni Lago Next Best Picture 5d
7/10
"The Lorraine" doesn’t end as strongly as it begins. Still, its brief runtime is packed with a moving snapshot of forgotten history that underscores why the power of community can move mountains, even amid the trials we face today. Go to Full Review Christopher Llewellyn Reed Film Festival Today 6d
3.5/5
You’ll come away with a robust understanding of all the facts, and along the journey gain an appreciation of the pride of place Memphis should hold in our memory, too. Go to Full Review Jeanine T. Abraham VisAbleBlackwoman (Medium) Jun 8
5/5
The film left me with a sense of pride in the history that so many want us never to know. The Lorraine is the best of what documentary films are meant to do. Go to Full Review Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies Jun 7
4.5/5
What emerges in The Lorraine is a reminder that the motel’s story cannot be reduced to April 4, 1968. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Cast & Crew

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Sam Pollard

Director

Alvin Hall

Screenwriter

Juleyka Lantigua

Screenwriter

Joseph Wemple

Screenwriter

Dan Braun

Producer

Joseph Wemple

Producer
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The Lorraine

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Movie Info

Synopsis In the heart of Memphis, Walter and Loree Bailey's Lorraine Hotel was both a thriving hub of Black entrepreneurship and a destination for the greatest musicians of the 20th century -- a place where Civil Rights demonstrations were planned, musical hits were written, and Black and white artists created history together. A rare, black-owned establishment, The Lorraine served as a safe haven and sanctuary for Black travelers during the Jim Crow era. Then, on April 4, 1968, the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. outside Room 306 cleaved that history in two, and the world forgot everything else. Urgent yet deeply joyful, THE LORRAINE is both a reckoning with the Civil Rights Movement's unfinished legacy and a celebration of Black excellence and resilience. Renowned documentarian Sam Pollard uses archival footage and music along with the voices of those who lived it to vividly revive what was lost. The film ultimately becomes a story of reclamation: of space, history, and identity. Of transforming trauma into light. THE LORRAINE reminds us that history is never as neatly resolved as we're taught to believe, and that the fight for justice is still very much evolving.
Director
Sam Pollard
Producer
Dan Braun, Joseph Wemple, Ben Braun
Screenwriter
Alvin Hall, Juleyka Lantigua, Joseph Wemple
Genre
Documentary, History
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 24m