She’s an undercover cop, he’s the head of an underground drug ring. The unlikely pairing promises many twists and turns.
Released on Feb. 7, Desolation Row is a crime-romance, packed with action and intrigue offering philosophical commentary about the student body of today. The 24 minute film came to life through Bader Lane Productions, a student run club that produces and creates short films.
A character driven story that’s written and directed by Executive Producer of Bader Lane Productions Patrick Mitchell, ArtSci ’25, Desolation Row stars Kataryna Dawiskiba, ArtSci ’26, playing Cassandra Trask, and Ryan Killorn, ArtSci ’27, playing Lucius Ferrera or “Duke.”
The film centres around the romance between Lucius, the kingpin of Kingston’s criminal narcotics enterprise, and Cassandra, a Catholic police officer. They’re both in very different societal positions, yet both are struggling with feeling stuck, unsure of what to do next.The audience is left to speculate what will happen to the new couple, as the pendulum swings between doomed star-crossed lovers or true lovebirds who can escape their fate.
Overall, the film took 10 months to put together and was a labour of love for everyone involved at Bader Lane Productions.
“The purpose of Bader Lane Productions is to produce entertaining and high-quality student films and allow students to improve their craft in a ionate and encouraging environment,” Mitchell said.
It’s safe to say the goal was exceeded with Desolation Row. Yet, beyond entertainment, there was a sincere depth to the short film.
The dialogue between Lucius and Cassandra is thoughtful and articulate. Their philosophical banter seems to capture the essence of the film. In one of Lucius’ monologues, he gripes about how his parents had opportunities, but now wars are fought with drones, and ion is dead—humans are being replaced by computers.
Lucius’ resignation and listlessness are symptoms of his and Cassandra’s deep inability to make decisions. They seem afraid of having to make a choice.
“The time of ion and doing what you love is dead—is it? Or is nobody doing it? […] With social media and everybody looking at what you’re doing, nobody is trying to be sincere,” Mitchell said in an interview with The Journal.
Mitchell argues the lack of direction he sees in this generation of undergraduate students—represented in Lucius and Cassandra’s characters—comes from underestimating one’s own ability. Being afraid of making the wrong decision has led students to trust computers and ChatGPT at the expense of trusting their own abilities which AI and technology can never possess.
This withdrawal is what Mitchell believes makes this generation so lost.
Desolation Row opens with a quote from shortly after the First World War. “You are all a lost generation,” American writer, Gertrude Stein, said to American novelist, Ernest Hemingway, to describe his generation of artists who felt discouraged and confused with life after WWI.
Mitchell believes that while this quote is from over a hundred years ago, it still applies to today’s youth. “[Desolation Row] is very much a movie for Queen’s University students because almost nobody makes decisions or wants to. It’s almost a dirty subject matter to ask [those in fourth year] what they are doing in May,” Mitchell said.
Desolation Row is made for students by students. With an intention of relatability and a focus on the contemporary generation, the film manages to be amusing and thought-provoking under the span of half an hour.
Beyond being a fast-paced enjoyable story with a slight philosophical undertone, the short film serves as a homage to a city that many students love and cherish.
From slinging cocaine around the student ghetto, loaded kisses at the pier, and gunfights in the basements of Kingston student housing, Desolation Row turns the quiet campus city into a world of high-stakes, adrenaline, and drama.
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