What Is Mile End Kicks About?
The premise of Mile End Kicks in 270 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of Montreal’s Mile End neighborhood in 2011, this bright romantic comedy captures the messiness of early adulthood with both humor and heart. Grace Pine, a 22-year-old music critic from Toronto, arrives in the city with a singular creative mission: to write a book about Alanis Morissette’s iconic album Jagged Little Pill. What begins as a professional endeavor soon becomes something far more complicated, as Grace finds herself swept into the neighborhood’s thriving indie music scene and its colorful cast of characters.
Renting an apartment she discovered on Craigslist, Grace moves in with Madeleine, a local DJ whose connections run deep through Montreal’s artistic circles. Through her new roommate, Grace encounters Bone Patrol, an up-and-coming four-piece indie rock band whose members become unexpectedly entangled in her search for direction—both in her career and her love life. Among them are Archie Webber, the band’s thoughtful guitarist who lives next door, and Chevy Olsen, the charismatic but polarizing lead singer whose reputation precedes him.
Directed by Chandler Levack, known for the sharply observed coming-of-age film I Like Movies, the story pulses with the energy of a specific time and place—loft parties, late-night conversations, and the particular thrill of young people trying to figure out what matters most. Grace must navigate the challenges of a male-dominated music scene while untangling her own feelings, a new publishing deal, and the nagging sense that her carefully laid plans might not survive contact with reality. The film balances its romantic entanglements with a genuine affection for its setting, capturing a world where artistic ambition and personal longing often collide in unexpected ways.
What Happens in Mile End Kicks?
The complete story of Mile End Kicks, from the first scene to the last, in 939 words (about 4 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 1 cast member page.
Spoilers ahead
Grace Pine, a 22-year-old music critic working for Merge Weekly in Toronto, heads to Montreal for the summer to write a quirky, intimate 33 1/3 book about Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill. She finds a cluttered apartment in the Mile End neighborhood with a roommate named Madeleine, a local DJ who shares the space with her boyfriend, Hugo Côté, the drummer for the rising indie rock band Bone Patrol. Grace pitches her project to New York editor Phoebe Reilly via Skype, and a publishing deal soon follows, along with a modest $500 advance that she cautiously accepts as a foothold in a city that feels both thrilling and overwhelming. The arrangement sets a rhythm for the summer that will test her ambitions, her finances, and her tolerance for the messy realities of artistic pursuit.
On Grace’s first night in Montreal, Madeleine invites her to a loft party where she is DJing. There, Grace meets Archie Webber, the sensitive, winsome guitarist for Bone Patrol, and they spark a quick, hazy bond after they share some marijuana. Grace watches Bone Patrol perform and is immediately drawn to Chevy Olsen, the band’s lead singer, whose pretentious veneer irritates as much as it fascinates. The two strike up a hesitant, awkward conversation after the show, and despite Madeleine’s warning that Chevy is far from easy, Grace is unable to ignore the pull she feels toward him. After the party, Grace and Archie head home together and discover they are next-door neighbors, a coincidence that adds a new layer of tension to Grace’s otherwise careful, professional plan for Montreal.
Grace invites Archie to become more than a bystander in her life, hoping for a familiar, almost cinematic connection. Archie, however, is celibate for personal reasons, and his restraint introduces a balancing edge to their growing proximity. Meanwhile, Grace’s day-to-day life in Mile End expands as she wanders into the neighborhood, including a quick stop at the nearby Kicks shoe store, where Chevy works a day job. When Chevy mentions Bone Patrol’s debut EP, Grace offers to take on the role of publicist, a proposition that Chevy accepts with a measured optimism that hints at trouble ahead.
The narrative then shifts to Grace’s financial reality. With no money in her bank account, she emails Jeff—the former Merge editor she had a complicated past with—about the $4,000 he owes her. A flashback reveals their complicated relationship, including an affair, which adds an embittered layer to her current professional anxieties. For a while, Grace sets aside her Alanis Morissette project to craft a review of Bone Patrol’s debut EP for the Montreal Mirror, using the piece to test how far she can push her voice in a male-dominated music scene. She even tries to spark something with Chevy in her apartment, but their chemistry remains fraught; he suggests keeping things strictly professional, a boundary that Grace is reluctant to honor.
The tension spikes at a loft party where Grace is meant to read an excerpt from her Alanis book as part of a poetry reading. Archie quietly advises her to proceed with confidence, but Grace reads nothing and instead leaves with Chevy, stepping into a different kind of risk. The moment has consequences back home: a voicemail from Phoebe informs Grace that her contract has been terminated due to poor communication, and the sting of that message lands hard as she listens in tears. Madeleine scolds her for being selfish, reminding Grace that she owes rent for two months. The emotional weight of the rejection and the rent ultimatum hits Grace at once, and she finds herself at a crossroads between pursuit and practicality.
Archie later explains that he is celibate because of an oral herpes diagnosis, but he also confesses his lingering feelings for Grace. When she reveals that she has been seeing Chevy, Archie blurts out the biting truth that Chevy had called her a “cum dumpster” during the poetry reading. The blunt insult lands with a wrenching clarity, and the moment crystallizes the cost of Grace’s pursuit of romance in a city where power dynamics often blur ethical lines. The confrontation leaves Grace feeling defeated, prompting her to return to Toronto and confront Jeff about both his treatment of her and the unpaid funds she’s owed.
Yet the story doesn’t end there. Grace returns to Montreal for Bone Patrol’s EP launch, where she makes amends with Madeleine, paying off the rent she owed. Chevy makes a last, awkward romantic gesture, but Grace pushes back, telling him to “fuck off” and asserting a hard-won boundary. In a quieter, more intimate moment, she delivers a reading about her experiences as a female music critic navigating a field dominated by men, a piece that reframes her journey as much as it reveals the toll of ambition on personal life.
Before she heads home to Toronto for the final time, Grace spends a day with Archie, riding around in the Bone Patrol van as they drift toward a sense of possibility. The two share a kiss and a charged moment of potential, leaving their future open but rooted in the honest, messy momentum of what they’ve just endured together. The summer in Montreal, with its blend of creative fever, romance, disappointment, and resilience, leaves Grace listening to the music she’s chasing with new ears and a more tempered sense of what it means to write about life as it unfolds.
“cum dumpster”
The season’s hot mess and bright discoveries collide in this observant, candid portrait of a young critic trying to chart her own voice while negotiating love, jealousy, debt, and the unpredictable tempo of a creative city.
Mile End Kicks Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
14 key events in the order they happen, from “Grace moves to Montreal to write her book” to “Final day with Archie”. 14 events name a place, across 12 locations.
- 1
Grace moves to Montreal to write her book
Grace relocates from Toronto to Montreal to write a 33 ⅓ book about Jagged Little Pill. She rents a Mile End apartment with Madeleine and soon meets the indie rock world she’s about to cover. After pitching to a New York editor via Skype, she lands a publishing deal with a $500 advance.
When:Summer 2011 Where:Montreal, Mile End
- 2
First night in Montreal: the loft party
Grace attends a loft party where Madeleine DJ's. She meets Archie Webber, Bone Patrol's guitarist, and is immediately drawn to Chevy Olsen, the lead singer. They smoke marijuana together and Grace feels an instant attraction.
When:First night in Montreal Where:Madeleine's loft party, Montreal
- 3
Archie and Grace become neighbors
Grace and Archie bond on the walk home from the party and discover they are next‑door neighbors. They flirt and she invites him to have sex, but he reveals he is celibate for personal reasons. The encounter foreshadows the complicated dynamic between them.
When:Dawn after party Where:Montreal, on the way home
- 4
Grace offers to publicize Bone Patrol
Grace learns Bone Patrol's debut EP is on the way and offers to be the band's publicist. Chevy agrees to have her handle PR, giving her a foothold in the Montreal music scene. This marks a turning point as her focus shifts toward the band’s career.
When:Later that day Where:Mile End Kicks
- 5
Debt and a troubling flashback
Grace emails Jeff about the $4,000 he owes her. A flashback reveals she had an affair with him when he was married, exposing personal complications behind her professional ambitions. The moment blurs the line between her career and her private life.
When:Evening Where:Montreal
- 6
Grace writes a Bone Patrol review
Grace writes a review of Bone Patrol's debut EP for the Montreal Mirror. The piece helps raise the band's profile and pulls her deeper into the Montreal music scene. She contemplates shelving her Alanis Morissette book as she focuses on live coverage.
When:Evening Where:Montreal Mirror office
- 7
Loft party reads and insults
At a later loft party, Grace plans to read an excerpt from her Alanis book as part of a poetry reading. Archie encourages her to go on, but Chevy publicly belittles her, calling her a 'cum dumpster'. The insult creates a tense, shared humiliation among them.
When:Evening Where:Loft party, Montreal
- 8
Sex interrupted
Grace and Chevy begin to have sex at his place, but he abruptly stops, unable to achieve an erection. The moment underscores the fragility of their volatile dynamic. It also compounds Grace's sense of disillusionment with the surrounding scene.
When:That night Where:Chevy's house
- 9
Contract termination and fallout
Returning home, Grace finds a voicemail from Phoebe terminating her contract due to lack of communication. She breaks down in tears while Madeleine accuses her of being selfish and demands back rent. The professional collapse compounds her personal crisis.
When:That night / next day Where:Grace's apartment; Madeleine's apartment
- 10
Archie’s confession
The next day, Archie tells Grace he is celibate because he has oral herpes contracted from a past hookup and confesses his feelings for Grace. He also recounts Chevy's insult from the poetry reading, deepening the rift between them. Grace must decide what to do about both men.
When:Next day Where:Montreal
Show the other 4 events of Mile End Kicks Hide the last 4 events
- 11
Grace returns to Toronto
Defeated, Grace moves back to Toronto and leaves Montreal behind to reassess her life and career. The distance gives her space to rethink her priorities and ambitions.
When:Following day Where:Toronto
- 12
Confronting Jeff in Toronto
Back in Toronto, Grace confronts Jeff at the Merge office and demands the $4,000 he owes her. He tells her the invoice has already been processed, clarifying the professional friction between them. The confrontation underscores the financial sting behind her career struggles.
When:Back in Toronto Where:Merge offices, Toronto
- 13
EP launch and reconciliation
Grace returns to Montreal for Bone Patrol's EP launch, where she pays Madeleine two months’ rent and they make amends. Chevy makes a tentative romantic gesture, but Grace rebuffs him with a blunt, 'fuck off'. The launch marks a moment of professional progress and personal boundary setting.
When:EP launch night Where:Montreal
- 14
Final day with Archie
Before leaving, Grace spends the day with Archie driving around in the Bone Patrol van. They share a kiss and briefly consider having sex in the van, signaling a final, fragile connection before she heads home. The day caps a turbulent arc of attraction, disappointment, and self‑assertion.
When:Day before returning to Toronto Where:Bone Patrol van
Who Are the Main Characters in Mile End Kicks?
11 characters, among them Grace Pine (Barbie Ferreira), Archie Webber (Jay Baruchel) and Hugo Côté (Robert Naylor): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Grace Pine (Barbie Ferreira)
Played by Barbie Ferreira
Grace Pine is a 22-year-old music critic who relocates to Montreal to craft a book about Jagged Little Pill. She is ambitious and hungry for recognition, sometimes sacrificing personal boundaries for career advancement. Her charm and impulsiveness pull her into a web of romantic and professional entanglements as she chases a breakthrough in the indie scene.
- 🎭 Drama
- 🎵 Music
- 🧭 City life
-
Archie Webber (Jay Baruchel)
Played by Jay Baruchel
Archie is the sensitive guitarist for Bone Patrol, whose warmth and honesty contrast with the band's edgier dynamics. He develops a closeness with Grace but keeps romantic expectations ambiguous, revealing his own commitment to celibacy. His feelings for Grace complicate both their personal and professional boundaries.
- 🎸 Music
- 💖 Romance
- HC
Hugo Côté (Robert Naylor)
Played by Robert Naylor
Hugo is Madeleine's boyfriend and Bone Patrol's drummer, embedded in the Montreal indie scene. His presence grounds the party atmosphere and the band's social circle. He interacts within the story as part of the orbit surrounding Grace's temporary Montreal life.
- 🥁 Drummer
- 🏙️ City life
- D(
Dj (Hasani Freeman)
Played by Hasani Freeman
Dj is the local DJ who propels the loft party culture that greets Grace in Montreal. A symbol of the city's club and party scene, Dj connects the characters to the music-forward world and to the parties that drive Grace's initial attraction to the band.
- 🎧 DJ
- 🌃 Nightlife
- GL
Geneviève Lachance (Svetlana Citta)
Played by Svetlana Citta
Geneviève Lachance appears as a figure within the Montreal arts milieu, reflecting the network Grace navigates outside Bone Patrol. Her presence helps illustrate the interconnected local world of critics, club goers, and artists.
- 🎨 Arts
- 🗺️ City life
- P(
Penelope (Emily Lê)
Played by Emily Lê
Penelope is part of the Montréal-based circle that Grace encounters, contributing to the film's explorations of friendships and loyalties within the critical ecosystem. The interactions with Penelope reveal how personal and professional lines blur in a city driven by art and ambition.
- 🎭 Drama
- 🧭 City life
- C(
Charlotte (Michaela Snoyer)
Played by Michaela Snoyer
Charlotte is a member of the surrounding cast, part of the group that strings together the social fabric of Grace's Montreal summer. She embodies the collective energy of the indie scene and the various personalities Grace meets.
- 🎵 Music
- 👥 Ensemble
- C(
Chloe (Magi Merlin)
Played by Magi Merlin
Chloe is a character in the Montreal milieu, contributing to the film's tapestry of friends and acquaintances Grace moves among during the summer.
- 🎬 Film
- 🎶 Music
- C(
Claire (Audrey Ann Boucher)
Played by Audrey Ann Boucher
Claire appears in the cast as part of the broader social circle surrounding the story, adding to the dynamic of friendships, loyalties, and the cost of pursuing art in a crowded city.
- 🎭 Drama
- J(
Jesse (Isaiah Lehtinen)
Played by Isaiah Lehtinen
Jesse is part of the ensemble in Grace's Montreal journey, fueling the film's exploration of relationships and the community Grace traverses.
- 🎭 Drama
- 🌃 City life
- CG
Concert Goer #1 (Emma Cheuk)
Played by Emma Cheuk
A minor yet memorable participant in the live music scenes of Montreal that Grace attends, highlighting the atmosphere of the indie concerts.
- 🎶 Live music
- 👥 Crowd
Where and When Is Mile End Kicks Set?
Mile End Kicks is set in Mile End, Montreal and Canada (2011). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
2011
Set in the summer of 2011, the film follows Grace as she navigates Montreal's indie music circuit and a budding journalism career. It captures a pre-digital-dominant era of zines, loft parties, and small magazines shaping reputations. Grace's pursuit of a publishable book collides with professional setbacks and personal drama, reflecting the era's vibrant yet precarious art scene.
Where
Mile End, Montreal, Canada
Mile End is a bohemian, artsy neighborhood in Montreal known for its indie music scene and loft culture. The story unfolds through loft parties, local stores like Mile End Kicks, and intimate gatherings that anchor Grace in a close-knit arts community. The setting emphasizes a youthful urban milieu where aspiring musicians and critics collide and collaborate.
- 🎵 Music
- 🧭 City life
- 🗺️ Montreal setting
What Are the Themes of Mile End Kicks?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Industry Power, Self-discovery and Romance and Jealousy.
-
01
Industry Power
The movie probes gendered power dynamics in the indie music scene, showing Grace negotiating with male-dominated circles, critics, and band members. Her work as a publicist and writer is complicated by seductive and transactional relationships, reminding that voice and agency can be constrained by professional hierarchies. The 'cum dumpster' insult underscores how misogyny shapes interactions and opportunities.
-
02
Self-discovery
Grace's journey traces the tension between ambition and personal well-being. Struggling with a terminated contract and financial stress, she rethinks what success means beyond writing the celebrated book. The arc culminates in a return to Toronto, followed by a renewed sense of purpose after confronting her own ambitions and shortcomings.
-
03
Romance and Jealousy
Romantic entanglements drive much of the plot, with Grace forming complicated connections with Archie and Chevy. Jealousies and miscommunications reveal how intimate desires can clash with professional goals. The relationships expose vulnerability, insecurity, and the consequences of choosing personal feelings over career aims.
What Kind of Film Is Mile End Kicks?
Bittersweet in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Bittersweet
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A bittersweet and introspective romantic comedy about navigating young adulthood, creative ambitions, and messy relationships within a vibrant indie music scene.
- awkward
- hopeful
- introspective
- romantic
- youthful
- melancholic
- coming of age
- music scene
- creative struggles
- toxic relationships
Content notes: infidelity, emotional abuse, financial insecurity.
Quiz
How well do you remember Mile End Kicks? Test yourself on the story.
