"The Lorraine Motel" - Dir. Sam Pollard
"THROUGHOUT, THERE'S LOTS OF WONDERFUL MUSIC" - Stephen Silver (Film critic)
"the music becomes a character in its own right"
"contributes an energetic flair"
The laying out of this foundational context is informative and the pacing of the edit and the choice of music contributes an energetic flair. As the film progresses, the music becomes a character in its own right. Christopher North’s original score sits in harmony with the pre-existing songs. And the recurring orchestral theme is delightfully melancholic, capturing the sad and joyful tones of the Lorraine’s legacy. The experience in part is essentially a musical one, which only complements Memphis’ rich black musical tradition.
“The Lorraine is the best of what documentary films are meant to do. Certified Fresh 5 out of 5 tomatoes” - VISABLEBLACKWOMAN (Film Critic)
“We’ve got a great musical score. We got great needle drops. What else can you ask for? It was a great team to work with, and I’ve worked with lots of different production teams, but this was absolute aces.” - Sam Pollard (Director, the Lorraine Motel)
“In The Lorraine, director Sam Pollard (Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes) explores the history of this famous/infamous location and how it changed into its current shape. As with all Pollard’s movies, it is well-made and gripping. I’ve seen this one and can therefore vouch for it.” - Chris Reed (Film Critic)
“Yeah, you think about all the different songs and you’ve got to remember Stax Records was there [in Memphis]. It’s the home of B. B. King, Rufus Thomas and so many great musicians, so you’ve been given a wonderful gift to have such wonderful music that came out of that community.” - Sam Pollard (Director, the Lorraine Motel)
“The film is not some rose colored glasses, all Black people get along kind of civil rights story... and the controversy around how it was saved, and the complexity of who was harmed by their actions. ” - VisAbleBlackwoman (Film Critic)
“His documentary subjects consistently reflect of his unwavering finger on the pulse of Black American history and culture. So, it comes as no surprise that The Lorraine would be the latest in his cinematic griot style of filmmaking.” - Carla Renata (Film Critic)