Mile End Kicks
The brief
Chandler Levack nails the awkward romance and pretentious music scene politics of early 2010s indie culture with surprising authenticity. Barbie Ferreira brings genuine charm to a character who could easily be insufferable, while the Montreal setting feels lived-in rather than postcard pretty. The film moves at a leisurely pace that mirrors the aimless quarter-life drift of its characters, complete with cringe-worthy band dynamics and the kind of romantic messiness that actually feels real. Perfect for anyone who loved the music nerd humor of High Fidelity or the indie scene nostalgia of Her Smell.
The verdict
If you have patience for character-driven indie films and nostalgia for early 2010s music scene culture, this is a charming and authentic slice of quarter-life romantic messiness. If you prefer fast-paced plotting over leisurely character studies or find pretentious music nerds annoying, the nearly two-hour runtime will test your endurance.
Watch with
- 👥 Perfect for indie music lovers and friends
- 👫 Great date night for music nerds
- ⚠️ Skip if you hate slow-burn character studies
Heads up
- Sexual content and romantic situations (moderate)
- Drug and alcohol use typical of indie music scene (moderate)
- Strong language throughout (frequent)
Credits
- Director
- Chandler Levack
- Cast
- Barbie Ferreira, Jay Baruchel, Devon Bostick, Stanley Simons, Juliette Gariépy, Robert Naylor, Isaiah Lehtinen
Official synopsis
In 2011, Montreal’s indie music scene, Grace Pine, a 24-year-old music critic moves to the Canadian city to
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Power Ballad (2026)
Both explore music scenes with romantic complications and artistic passion.
Total runtime: 1h 51m + 1h 38m = 3h 29m
