Mile End Kicks is the kind of movie that feels the best at a certain time, it’s the kind of movie that takes you back to a certain moment in the mood. Chandler Levack’s sophmore effort is a heartfelt, romantic comedy that depicts a classic Montreal summer in the 2010’s. Paired with great performances, some well-timed needle drops, and lots of heart, Mile End Kicks is a must-see from this year’s TIFF slate.

Set in Montreal’s Mile End neighborhood, where the film borrows the title from, we follow Grace, a Toront-based music writer who relocates east of Canada fo the summer in the hopes of writing her Jagged Little Pill novella, among other things. Barbie Ferreira is the heart and soul of this film. Chandler Levack is the clear inspiration for this character and we quickly see that as Levack poured her soul into showing this character’s vulnerability from every single angle. She’s witty, funny, quick on her feet, and the perfect protagonist.

The romance aspect of the film is a perfect tonal shift from the quirky summer-comedy vibes. The love triangle comes in at the right time and never overstayed its welcome, solely keeping the focus on Grace’s story when it needs to. The interactions between all three characters tie into the film and feel natural in every sense of the word. The one on one conversations between Ferreira and Devon Bostick are where the movie truly shines a light on these moments though, and their scenes are some major standout moments for me. Bostick in particular gives a memorable performance in this film, and has some of the funniest lines of the movie (double peace bro!)

I’m a big believer in the power of music in films and television, and Mile End Kicks hinges on this. Thankfully, the usage of music in this film is flawless and integrated perfectly. Having the movie hinge on the idea of Jagged Little Pill being analyzed into a novella is smart and made me want to go back and listen to the album again frankly. It endears itself to Levack’s story for the film and I can’t envision any other album taking its place. The needle drops are all 2010’s coded and each song is played with choice, something I appreciated tremendously.

Mile End Kicks is a strong sophomore effort from Chandler Levack and a promising addition to Canadian cinema this year. Led by strong direction, amazing performances, as well as a wonderful backdrop from Montreal, this is a great addition to the TIFF lineup this year.