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A Real Pain is a 2024 comedy-drama that follows cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) as they reunite for a Jewish heritage tour through Poland to honor their late grandmother. Though meant to be a journey of remembrance, the trip quickly reveals deep-seated family tensions and clashing personalities. David is an introverted, cautious family man, while Benji is impulsive and prone to emotional outbursts. Their contrasting approaches to grief, identity, and legacy make for a tumultuous adventure that’s as funny as it is poignant. As they travel through memorial sites and historical landmarks, they encounter others on similar journeys, including a Holocaust survivor and a divorcée, each adding unique perspectives on memory and trauma. Directed by Jesse Eisenberg, A Real Pain uses humor and heart to explore how family, culture, and history shape us in ways we may never fully understand.
A Real Pain is a 2024 comedy-drama film written, directed, and produced by Jesse Eisenberg. The film stars Eisenberg alongside Kieran Culkin, with a supporting cast that includes Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey, Kurt Egyiawan, Liza Sadovy, and Daniel Oreskes. Emma Stone and Dave McCary serve as producers under their Fruit Tree production banner. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2024, and was later released in U.S. theaters on November 1, 2024.
Eisenberg’s second directorial feature explores family, memory, and identity through the unique lens of two Jewish-American cousins, David and Benji. Their journey to Poland to honor their late grandmother’s memory becomes a comedic yet poignant exploration of family tensions, cultural inheritance, and the search for personal meaning amidst a complex history.
A Real Pain follows David Kaplan (Jesse Eisenberg) and his cousin Benji (Kieran Culkin), two distant relatives with clashing personalities. Reuniting for a Jewish heritage tour in Poland meant to honor their grandmother’s memory, they soon find themselves clashing over unresolved issues and generational conflicts. Against the backdrop of Holocaust memorial sites, the cousins confront family tensions, their own identities, and the personal weight of history.
David, reserved and introverted, finds himself both inspired and embarrassed by Benji’s outgoing and often uninhibited personality. As they travel together, they meet others on the heritage tour, including their guide James (Will Sharpe), Holocaust survivor Eloge (Kurt Egyiawan), and Marcia (Jennifer Grey), each of whom brings new perspectives to the journey.
The film was announced in 2022, with Eisenberg attached to direct and star, alongside Kieran Culkin. Produced by Emma Stone and Dave McCary under the Fruit Tree banner, A Real Pain was shot in Poland, with many scenes filmed on location in Lublin, giving it an authentic backdrop that aligns with the film’s themes. Principal photography began in May 2023, capturing the emotional depth and humor of a family trip that unexpectedly opens up questions of identity, memory, and inherited trauma.
Eisenberg, known for his roles in films like The Social Network, channels his experience with complex, introspective characters to explore the dynamics of family and cultural legacy. This marks his second time as a director after When You Finish Saving the World, further establishing him as a filmmaker interested in capturing intimate, often uncomfortable human experiences.
A Real Pain premiered at Sundance 2024 in the U.S. Dramatic Competition category, receiving critical praise for its blend of humor, drama, and cultural introspection. Shortly after its premiere, Searchlight Pictures acquired worldwide distribution rights in a competitive $10 million auction. The film later premiered in Europe at the Zurich Film Festival and appeared in the 'Meeting Point' category at the Valladolid International Film Festival.
Critics have responded positively to Eisenberg’s thoughtful storytelling and the performances, especially praising Kieran Culkin’s portrayal of Benji, with Deadline calling it “a career high.” On Rotten Tomatoes, the film boasts a 94% approval rating, with an average rating of 8.1/10, while Metacritic scores it at 84, indicating “universal acclaim.”
At its core, A Real Pain examines the complexities of family connections, the weight of cultural memory, and the sometimes humorous contradictions of trying to “connect” with a painful past. Eisenberg uses humor and heart to explore generational differences in processing grief, history, and personal pain. Through David and Benji’s contrasting approaches, the film touches on how trauma and history can shape identity, even for those who did not directly experience it.
Their journey through Holocaust memorials and historical sites raises questions about how individuals grapple with inherited trauma, and whether it’s possible—or even necessary—to “feel” the pain of those who came before us. The film’s blend of comedy and drama emphasizes the sometimes awkward, sometimes profound ways people relate to history and family legacies, making it both a relatable and moving exploration of human connection.
A Real Pain is more than just a family comedy; it’s a reflection on memory, identity, and the sometimes absurd ways people try to connect with a painful history. Eisenberg’s careful blend of humor and introspection, bolstered by standout performances from Culkin and the supporting cast, makes it a unique addition to the genre of personal, history-driven dramedies. With strong critical acclaim and an insightful, relatable premise, A Real Pain invites audiences to laugh, reflect, and maybe even confront their own connections to family and history.
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