With the final curtains drawn, red carpets rolled up, and the return to a balanced work/life schedule (well, as balanced as it can be), it’s time to reflect on the movies that stood above the rest for me from this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.
From star-studded world premieres to intimate, career-defining turns, TIFF’s 50th anniversary (TIFFTY!) lineup delivered a captivating spectrum of storytelling. Sifting through a slate of 18 (!) powerful dramas, biting comedies, and stunning debuts was no small task, but five titles left an incredible mark.
My top five picks for TIFF this year are Good Fortune, the hilarious and surprisingly heartfelt feature debut from Aziz Ansari; Hamlet, a visceral and emotionally shattering re-telling of a classic with Riz Ahmed; Homebound, a beautifully acted drama that explores the crushing weight of ambition and division; Mile End Kicks, a sharp, nostalgic coming-of-age story set against the vibrant Montreal music scene; and finally, Tuner, a whip-smart thriller starring Dustin Hoffman and Leo Woodall.
Mile End Kicks is the latest from Chandler Levack, following her much-loved first feature I Like Movies. Levack once again proves her mastery of sharp, character-driven storytelling in this bright romantic comedy.
Barbie Ferreira (Euphoria) stars as Grace, a young music critic trying to navigate her complicated twenties, and the film uses the vibrant backdrop of Montreal (in the early 2010s) as the backdrop – it’s where Grace attempts to figure out work, love, and what she truly wants. It’s a charming, relatable (especially if you’ve worked in publishing), and ultimately delightful trip through self-discovery.
What truly elevates Mile End Kicks beyond standard rom-com fare is Levack’s profound gift for writing characters that are painfully, beautifully real. Just like her protagonist in I Like Movies, Grace, are given the necessary space to be genuinely young and messy – like Lawrence before her – is allowed to make mistakes and pursue bad ideas without the neat, immediate wisdom usually imposed by film scripts. This authenticity creates an incredible sense of recognition; you can see yourself or your own past situations reflected in their struggles. Watching Grace navigate the awkward dance of new relationships and career uncertainty, you feel an intense, familiar frustration. You genuinely want to break through the screen, grab her by the shoulders, and offer the guidance and clarity that your older, wiser self now possesses.
Levack skillfully bottles that chaotic, hopeful, and deeply frustrating time of your twenties, making Mile End Kicks feel less like a movie and more like a detailed, empathetic memory.
A release date for Mile End Kicks is yet to be announced. The film also stars Jay Baruchel, Devon Bostick, Juliette Gariépy, and Isaiah Lehtinen.
