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A Real Pain

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6.9/10 • 447

2024-11-011h 29m

ComedyDrama

Join the family.

Mismatched cousins David and Benji reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when the pair's old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history.

Directors
Jesse Eisenberg
Writters
Jesse Eisenberg
Editors
Jesse Eisenberg, Robert Nassau

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Jesse Eisenberg

    Jesse Eisenberg

    David Kaplan

  2. Kieran Culkin

    Kieran Culkin

    Benji Kaplan

  3. Will Sharpe

    Will Sharpe

    James

  4. Jennifer Grey

    Jennifer Grey

    Marcia

  5. Kurt Egyiawan

    Kurt Egyiawan

    Eloge

  6. Liza Sadovy

    Liza Sadovy

    Diane

  7. Daniel Oreskes

    Daniel Oreskes

    Mark

  8. Ellora Torchia

    Ellora Torchia

    Priya

  9. Banner Eisenberg

    Banner Eisenberg

    Abe

Reviews5

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Brent Marchant Avatar

Brent Marchant

Nov 16, 2024

7/10

Finding ourselves, particularly the process of finding what we’ve lost about ourselves, can be an eye-opening, enlightening but sometimes-painful ordeal, especially if we’re unclear about where to look. For many of us, though, this is a challenge we often attempt to resolve by examining our past, specifically that of our family and its legacy, in hopes that it provides the answers we seek. Such is the quest embarked upon by two once-close cousins, David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin), who journey to Poland on an intimate heritage tour to visit the homestead of their beloved deceased grandmother, a Holocaust survivor who made her way to America after World War II. While David and Benji were at one time as thick as thieves, they’ve drifted apart over time, each becoming significantly different from one another, but they hope to reestablish their longstanding connection through this intensely personal pilgrimage. As their odyssey unfolds, though, they come face to face with the changes that have arisen both in their relationship and in their understandings of themselves, from life goals to their cultural background as the descendants of Polish Jews to how they fundamentally relate to the world. It’s an often-difficult process for these earnest seekers, especially in light of their discovery that, if they truly wish to better understand themselves, they can only go so far in looking outward, instead needing to look inward for guidance and meaningful insight. And its aptly selected title is an ably suitable metaphor on multiple levels, not only in describing Benji’s often-manic, irrational and unpredictable behavior, but also in characterizing the anguish that he and David undergo in making their way through this emotional minefield. This second feature effort from actor-writer-director Eisenberg is indeed an impressive offering, even if its road trip/buddy movie script could use some periodic tweaking in terms of focus and its balance between comedy and drama. More significantly, however, this is a breakout performance for Culkin, who shows just how adept he can be with the right material, an award-worthy portrayal, to be sure. Add to this the film’s gorgeous cinematography of Polish landmarks and the country’s landscapes, as well as its fittingly appropriate Frédéric Chopin soundtrack, and you’ve got a profoundly thoughtful release, one that should give anyone in the cousins’ shoes pause for reflection, something from which we can all benefit from time to time, no matter what we’re ultimately looking for.

Media

  • A Real Pain poster
  • A Real Pain poster
  • A Real Pain poster
  • A Real Pain poster
  • A Real Pain poster
  • A Real Pain poster
  • A Real Pain poster
  • A Real Pain poster
  • A Real Pain poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
$3,000,000.00
Revenue
$20,581,325.00
Keywords
painsuicide attemptholocaust (shoah)jfk international airportvacationgriefjewish americanpolandbluntcousin cousin relationshipreflectiondramedythoughtfulcoping mechanismsheritageplayfulintrospectivejewishtourdeath of grandmotherwittyappreciativecompassionate