In the highly acclaimed “A Real Pain,” mismatched cousins David and Benji reunite for a tour to honor their beloved grandmother.
The adventure takes a turn when the odd couple’s old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history.
“A Real Pain” is a great film to check out during the Winter Film Festival. The film, which is also written, produced and directed by star Jesse Eisenberg, delivers emotionally-driven moments, some great laughs and stand out performances from both the lead actors.
One thing that really helps give the film a big boost is the on screen chemistry that Eisenberg and Culkin have. During all of their scenes where they banter to one another, they really do act like they’re related and it makes those scenes feel completely natural. There are quite a few moments where they can get on each other’s nerves, but you can still tell they care about one another.
Eisenberg does give a good performance as the straight-laced cousin, and you can tell the actor/filmmaker gave it his all to make this a great film. Culkin absolutely knocks it out of the park and steals the show wherever possible. His character can be hilariously chaotic at times, but you can tell that he’s holding back some pain and emotions. Culkin also earned a Golden Globe for his performance and is also nominated for an Oscar (which he definitely deserves).
“A Real Pain” uses humor to dive into deeper, more meaningful areas in some parts of the film. A lot of this is noticeable while they’re in the middle of their adventure together in Poland. Some of the humor can also bring out moments of vulnerability and the connections between the characters.
During some of those scenes, you can really feel for the two lead characters, especially Benji. The entire film flows smoothly and it’s bittersweet seeing the two estranged cousins get closer during their trip.
So, while the Winter Film Festival is going on at the Dietrich, make sure to add “A Real Pain” on your list of films to see!
Cast: Kieran Culkin (Benji Kaplan); Jesse Eisenberg (David Kaplan); Will Sharpe (James); Daniel Oreskes (Mark); Liza Sadovy (Diane); Kurt Egypiawan (Eloge); Ellora Torchia (Priya); Jennifer Grey (Marcia)
Writer/director: Jesse Eisenberg
Trivia: “A Real Pain” premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival where it won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award. This film was also named one of the top 10 films of 2024 by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute.
“A Real Pain” has also received various accolades, including two Oscar nominations, four Golden Globe nominations, two BAFTA Awards and three Critics Choice Awards. For his performance, Culkin was nominated for an Oscar, BAFTA Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, Critics Choice Award and Golden Globe, winning the latter two.
MPAA: Rated R for language throughout and some drug use (running time 90 minutes)
The show dates and times that “A Real Pain” is showing during the Winter Film Festival at the Dietrich Theater are as follows: Friday Feb. 21 at 9:30 pm; Tues. Feb. 25 at 12:00 pm; Friday Feb. 28 at 7:15 pm; Sunday March 2 at 5:00 pm; Tues. March 4 at 12:00 pm; Sat. March 8 at 12:00 pm; Monday March 10 at 2:30 pm; Wed. March 12 at 2:30 pm.
Writer’s note: Since I will be checking out some Oscar nominated films during the Winter Film Festival, after I get through most of the film festival selections I plan on seeing, I will also take a look at a couple past award winners! Make sure to keep on checking my Wyoming County Press Examiner reviews page on Facebook to see what I plan on checking out for future editions!
The piano pieces heard throughout the film are the work of Frédéric Chopin, a Polish composer and piano virtuoso, who is regarded as one of the greatest musicians in history.
The hat bought by Benji is a traditional Polish highlander (Gorale) hat. It is worn by men living in the mountains in southern Poland.
Jennifer Grey, who is Jewish-American, was overwhelmed on visiting Majdanek and couldn't stop crying. Jesse Eisenberg initially kept some of her reaction in the film, but ultimately decided it "disrupted" the tone.
The characters in the film visit the German concentration camp Majdanek near Lublin. Between 1941 and 1944, the Germans murdered about 80,000 people there, 59,000 of whom were Jews. The remaining victims were Poles, mainly members of the intelligentsia and the resistance movement. About 6% of the victims were children under the age of 15.
In Warsaw Benji and David eat the famous Polish soup called zurek. It is made with sourdough and has a slightly sour taste. It is often eaten with bread and eggs, and in Polish homes, it is traditionally served at Easter.
Jesse Eisenberg's sophomore directorial effort after When You Finish Saving the World (2022), both of which were produced by Emma Stone's production company Fruit Tree and had their world premieres at the Sundance Film Festival.
Disney's Searchlight Pictures acquired worldwide distribution rights for the film for $10 million in an all-night auction at the Sundance Film Festival.
The US departure and arrival airport in New York City is actually a European airport as evidenced by various building signs, building and gate equipment.
The title is a pun, with 'A Real Pain' being both the tour groups confrontation of the holocaust, Benji's (Kieran Culkin) struggle to deal with the death of his grandmother and of Benji's sometimes embarrassing and disruptive behavior to his more grounded cousin David (Jesse Eisenberg).
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