A Real Pain” is a 2024 buddy comedy-drama film that delves into themes of heritage, grief, and personal discovery. Written, directed by, and starring Jesse Eisenberg, the film features Kieran Culkin in a leading role.
Synopsis
The story revolves around David and Benji who are cousins of Polish Jews but are quite distant from each other. After a holocaust survivor grandmother dies, the two, think of flying to Poland. Such a trip which was aimed at paying respects becomes a journey of self exploration with the two struggling to resolve historical and emotional issues whilst attempting to better appreciate each other.
Awards & Wins
‘A Real Pain’ is apparently getting accolades from film critics and is creating a storm of buzz around awards especially about Kieran Culkin’s performance. The film has received four nominations for Golden Globe awards including Best Supporting Actor for Culkin.
Cast & Crew
- Director: Jesse Eisenberg
- Producers: Ewa Puszczyńska, Jennifer Semler, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Ali Herting, Dave McCary
- Cast:
- Jesse Eisenberg as David
- Kieran Culkin as Benji
- Will Sharpe
- Jennifer Grey
- Kurt Egyiawan
- Liza Sadovy
- Daniel Oreskes
IMDb Ratings
As of now, “A Real Pain” holds an IMDb rating of 7.8/10, reflecting positive reception from audiences.
Personal Insights
Eisenberg explains that he wanted to explore the relationship between cousins who haven’t met for a long time during the course of the film: ‘The arguable aspect here is that the two cousins inhabit very different worlds. However, their co-dependence creates a void in their personalities therefore making their bond upbeat, romantic almost and simply fascinating to watch.’ There is a very deft balancing of comic elements and the Holocaust remembrance aspect of the film within its narrative structure. However, this is only the path Illustration’s aka Jesse’s second directorial effort.
Cultural Significance
“A Real Pain” is incorporated into Jewish American cinema and furthers the discourse on the Holocaust in terms of its generational effects. The film raises questions about the influence of such historic suffering on the formed identities and relationships in the present day. By concentrating on Poland as the backdrop for a large proportion of the story, it also grapples with the issues of reconciliation and coming back to one’s roots which are fruitful in the context of memory.
Availability
On January 20, 2024 ‘A Real Pain’ was released in theatres after it premiered earlier in the Sundance film festival. By December 31, 2024 it was available on the most popular platforms like Apple TV and Vudu among others, and Blu Ray and DVD were to become available by February 4th which was to include more footage from behind the scenes. Despite not having an official date out yet, it is believed that Hulu will have it available for streaming in January 2025.