jessie eisenberg

The story of Jesse Eisenberg’s A Real Pain follows two estranged Jewish cousins – cautious, pragmatic David (Jesse Eisenberg) and unpredictable, free-spirited Benji Kaplan (Kieran Culkin) – who reunite for a Holocaust tour through Poland to honor their late, beloved Grandma Dory whose childhood home they’re planning to visit. Their travelling companions include wistful Los Angeles divorcee Marcia (Jennifer Grey), a stolidly boring older couple – Diana (Liza Sadovy) and Mark (Daniel Oreskes) from Shaker Heights – and soft-spoken, compassionate Eloge (Kurt Egyiawan) who fled the Rwandan genocide and later converted to Judaism. The itinerary takes them to a number of picturesque stops in Warsaw and Lublin with a somber visit to the Majdanek concentration and extermination camp.

A Real Pain is a Jewish history lesson complete with all the eccentricities and endearments. Jesse Eisenberg writes and directs as well as stars in the road-trip dramedy. He’s the perfect nebbish to Keiran Culkin’s shmegegge. Culkin really put himself back on the map with HBO’s Succession and he is at the top of his game now. Eisenberg is subtle perfection. Always able to make his acting look effortless.

A Real Pain combines comedy with weighty issues. When considered merely escapist amusement, some comedies do not receive the credit they deserve for integrating serious commentary into an enjoyable film. For many fine comedies resonate with weighty subtexts, as Jesse Eisenberg proves in A Real Pain. Director, screenwriter and star, Eisenberg has a keen eye for effective compositions and a knack for witty banter.

A Real Pain follows opposite cousins David and Benji who reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. But their adventure takes a turn when tensions between the two resurface. The pain both characters are going through impressively speaks louder from their actions and sometimes silence, more so than any words they express to each other. A Real Pain is a sincere and thought-provoking, emotional journey that is elevated by the film’s beautiful and unforgettable performances. It’s a rare gem that will stay with you all year.