Mile End Kicks — Review
Source: Sumerian Pictures
Arguably the most famous piece of writing advice is to “write what you know,” and writer-director Chandler Levack’s filmography exemplifies its efficacy. Her feature directorial debut, I Like Movies (2022), was partially inspired by her experience working at a video rental store as a teenager. Now, her sophomore feature, Mile End Kicks, draws from her time working as a music critic. There’s an undeniable passion for music that permeates the film, mirroring the admiration for cinema that runs throughout I Like Movies, which makes the two works feel thematically aligned. In fact, Mile End Kicks feels like the perfect companion to I Like Movies; during a Q&A, Levack even joked that she could have titled it I Like Music instead. By grounding her work in personal experience and distinct cultural moments, Levack successfully crafts films that feel astutely authentic and lived-in.
Chandler Levack, Barbie Ferreira, and Devon Bostick at AMC Empire in New York City on April 1, 2026
I Like Movies evoked the feeling of being a teenager in the 2000s, from the conflicts that typically arise during adolescence to the tactile act of wandering through the aisles of your local video store. Mile End Kicks, by contrast, transports viewers back to 2011, when Tumblr and American Apparel were all the rage and artists like Arcade Fire and Grimes saw a surge in popularity. The film also functions as a heartfelt love letter to the city of Montreal. However, even for moviegoers who can’t recall the year 2011 or have no connection to the city, Mile End Kicks still offers a much broader appeal.
Mile End Kicks follows 24-year-old Grace Pine (Barbie Ferreira), a music critic who moves to Montreal in hopes of writing a 33 ⅓ book about Alanis Morissette’s iconic album, Jagged Little Pill. However, her plans for the summer head in a different direction after she meets a local indie band, Bone Patrol. Grace is staying with Madeleine (Juliette Gariépy), whom she met through Craigslist, for the summer. Madeleine is a DJ and is dating Bone Patrol’s drummer, Hugo (Robert Naylor). Grace develops a friendship with Archie (Devon Bostick), the band’s guitarist, and a crush on Chevy (Stanley Simmons), the enigmatic and peculiar frontman. Rounding off the band is bassist Jesse (I Like Movies alum Isaiah Lehtinen). Montreal band TOPS wrote the songs for the fictional Bone Patrol, crafting tracks that truly feel as though they could have been hits within the indie rock scene of the early 2010s. Bostick and Lehtinen had never played the bass or guitar before, so they learned their instruments for the film, adding to its atmosphere of authenticity.
Source: Sumerian Pictures
The most impressive aspect of Mile End Kicks, as well as Levack’s previous film, is her ability to craft compelling characters who genuinely feel like real people. At the start of the film, Grace is likable enough. She is passionate about music and appears to be a diligent worker, staying late at the office and eagerly pitching ideas. She is also relatable in her awkwardness, humiliating herself while attempting to participate in conversations about music among her male colleagues. Levack gently eases us into the character, allowing her flaws to gradually emerge, which makes it easier to become invested in her story. Barbie Ferreira’s charming performance further enhances Grace’s characterization.
Source: Sumerian Pictures
After the writing and performances draw us into Grace’s character, the film begins to reveal more unlikable aspects of her personality. At times, she is endearing, but at others, she makes frustrating choices, acts selfishly, and allows distractions to cloud her judgment. The fact that I’ve described her as both likable and unlikable may seem paradoxical, but it mirrors how human beings actually are. Even when you meet someone with whom it feels like you share everything in common, that person will still occasionally make decisions you disagree with or behave in ways that baffle or infuriate you. Those idiosyncrasies and contradictions are part of what makes Levack’s characters feel so real. Her films have a laid-back, hangout-movie vibe that gives her characters the space and freedom to be messy, incompetent, and human. Yet her screenplays also maintain a strong narrative structure that allows them room to grow, reflect, and hopefully learn from their mistakes.
Source: Sumerian Pictures
In addition to constructing characters who are compelling yet frustratingly flawed, Levack also excels at recreating the past. Her films offer viewers a trip down memory lane without the rose-colored glasses that so many nostalgia-driven movies tend to rely on. She strikes a careful balance between wistful reminiscence and cringe-inducing moments of self-recognition and embarrassment. While people often romanticize the past and overlook its drawbacks, Levack presents a more complete picture, warts and all. She also resists the tired trope in which moving to a new city fixes a protagonist’s problems. Instead, Levack keeps her stories and characters closer to reality, where a simple change of scenery is not enough to solve Grace’s struggles.
The performances are convincing across the board, but Devon Bostick steals every scene he’s in. He is oddly captivating as the awkwardly lovable and, perhaps, a little too honest Archie. The chemistry between Grace and Archie is so palpable that it almost feels hard to believe Grace is more enamored with Chevy, whom Madeleine describes as “the worst guy in Montreal.” Juliette Gariépy delivers a standout supporting performance, portraying Madeleine with nuance and vulnerability. She shows Grace compassion, but isn’t afraid to call her out on her selfish tendencies and speak up when someone hurts her feelings.
Source: Sumerian Pictures
Mile End Kicks is ultimately about a young woman trying to get her shit together and figure her life out while frequently failing in the process. Much like its protagonist, the movie embraces a loose, go-with-the-flow energy. It is precisely this sense of messiness that allows its characters and story to feel genuine. In doing so, Levack once again demonstrates her distinct ability to translate personal experiences into narratives that resonate beyond their specific time and place. She remains committed to telling stories that are deeply human and emotionally honest, refusing to shy away from the imperfections, contradictions, and uncertainties that define not only growing up but life itself.
Mile End Kicks hits theaters on April 17, 2026.
Chandler Levack, Barbie Ferreira, and Devon Bostick at a Q&A screening of Mile End Kicks at AMC Empire in New York City on April 1, 2026
