Premiere - A Real Pain : Jesse Eisenberg Brings Humor and Heart to Paris Premiere

By Mulder, Paris, Cinéma Les 7 Parnassiens, 28 january 2025

On January 28, 2025, the Parisian cinema Les 7 Parnassiens became the stage for a special moment in cinema as Jesse Eisenberg’s highly acclaimed second feature film, A Real Pain, made its French debut. The premiere was a cinematic celebration, not just of the film itself but also of the personal artistry and emotional resonance that have made it one of the most talked-about films of the past year. Our media team was fortunate to attend this exceptional evening, which brought together the world of filmmaking and a captivated French audience.

The evening's highlight came after the screening, as Jesse Eisenberg—wearing multiple hats as director, producer, screenwriter, and star of the film—engaged in a lively and thought-provoking 30-minute discussion. Moderated by Samuel Douhaire, a film editor from Télérama, the Q&A delved deep into the film’s creative origins, the challenges faced during production, and Jesse Eisenberg’s perspective on balancing humor and drama. Jesse Eisenberg also fielded audience questions, offering a rare glimpse into the mind of one of the most intellectually curious and nuanced voices in modern filmmaking.

A Real Pain is a buddy road comedy-drama that stands out not just for its clever humor and sharp writing but also for its deep emotional undercurrents. The film tells the story of David (played by Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin), two Jewish-American cousins who reunite on a trip to Poland to honor their late grandmother. What begins as an earnest attempt to connect with their family’s past quickly turns into a humorous and poignant journey, filled with old tensions, surprising revelations, and questions about identity and memory. Jesse Eisenberg’s script carefully balances comedy and drama, using the mismatched dynamic between David and Benji as the foundation for both humorous moments and heartfelt introspection. Critics have praised Culkin’s standout performance, which brings depth and complexity to the impulsive Benji, a character navigating personal struggles while reconciling with his cousin’s contrasting personality. The film’s humor is sharp, but its emotional weight—rooted in cultural identity and historical reflection—is what lingers with audiences long after the credits roll.

A Real Pain first premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it earned the prestigious Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award for its exceptional script. This marked the beginning of an illustrious festival run, which included stops at the Zurich Film Festival, AFI Fest, the BFI London Film Festival, and the Warsaw Jewish Film Festival, among others. Its success at festivals translated to critical and commercial acclaim, as the film grossed $16.4 million worldwide on a modest $3 million budget. Its theatrical release in the United States in November 2024 was met with widespread praise, and by the time it arrived in Europe for its French premiere, it had already solidified its reputation as one of the standout films of the year. In fact, A Real Pain earned spots on the American Film Institute and National Board of Review's lists of the top ten films of 2024. It has also been nominated for several prestigious awards, including two Academy Award nominations and four Golden Globe nods, with Kieran Culkin taking home the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor.

Jesse Eisenberg, best known to many as an actor in films like The Social Network, has emerged as a formidable talent behind the camera. A Real Pain marks his second feature film as a writer and director, following his 2022 debut with When You Finish Saving the World. In this film, Jesse Eisenberg’s personal connection to the material is evident in every frame. Coming from a secular Jewish background with Polish ancestry, he drew on his own experiences to craft a story that feels deeply personal yet universally resonant. In interviews, Jesse Eisenberg has revealed how the film began as a thought experiment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Inspired by a short story he wrote years earlier, the film eventually took shape as a reflection on modern privilege, historical trauma, and the complexities of honoring the past. The Odd Couple dynamic between David and Benji mirrors Jesse Eisenberg’s own struggle to reconcile his contemporary challenges with the legacy of his Ashkenazi ancestors, many of whom were Holocaust survivors.

The result is a film that juxtaposes the vibrant, colorful reality of modern Poland with the weight of its historical scars. Jesse Eisenberg worked closely with cinematographer Michał Dymek, a Warsaw native, to ensure the visuals captured the country’s warmth and dynamism, rather than reducing it to the bleak stereotypes often seen in American films. Dymek’s use of perspective, along with the film’s elegant score—composed of Chopin’s piano masterpieces performed by Tzvi Erez—further enriches the film’s artistic vision.

Casting the film’s two central roles was one of the more intriguing behind-the-scenes stories. Kieran Culkin, fresh off his Emmy-nominated role in HBO’s Succession, was initially hesitant to join the project, fearing it might be too emotionally intense. However, after some convincing from Emma Stone—one of the film’s producers—Culkin signed on and delivered a performance that has since earned him multiple award nominations. Jesse Eisenberg himself faced a unique challenge: playing the character of David while simultaneously directing the film. Initially, the role of Benji was written for Jesse Eisenberg, but producers convinced him to step back from the more unhinged performance, allowing him to focus on his duties as a director. This decision paid off, as the dynamic between Jesse Eisenberg and Culkin adds authenticity to their on-screen relationship. Principal photography took place primarily in Poland, with locations selected using a mix of on-the-ground research and Google Maps scouting—a necessity during the pandemic. The decision to shoot in Poland was not just practical but also thematically vital, as the country’s history and cultural landscape form the backbone of the film’s narrative.

At the Paris premiere, Jesse Eisenberg shared his thoughts on bringing the film to French audiences, a milestone that highlights its global appeal. The French release, scheduled for February 26, 2025, will mark another chapter in the film’s journey, one that has already captivated audiences from Sundance to Warsaw. Distributed by The Walt Disney Company in France, the film is poised to continue its success as it reaches a new audience eager to experience its unique blend of humor and heart. As the audience at Les 7 Parnassiens gave a warm reception to both the film and Jesse Eisenberg’s thoughtful reflections during the Q&A, it was clear that A Real Pain had struck a chord. Its ability to blend humor with historical and cultural depth is a testament to Jesse Eisenberg’s talent as both a storyteller and filmmaker, making it a cinematic experience that is not to be missed.

You can discover our official photos in our Flickr page

Synopsis : 
Two cousins with diametrically opposed characters - David and Benji - reunite on a trip to Poland to honor the memory of their beloved grandmother. Their odyssey takes an unexpected turn when the old tensions of this unlikely duo resurface against the backdrop of their family history...

A Real Pain
Written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg
Produced by Ewa Puszczyńska, Jennifer Semler, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Ali Herting, Dave McCary
Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin, Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey, Kurt Egyiawan, Liza Sadovy, Daniel Oreskes
Cinematography : Michał Dymek
Edited by Robert Nassau
Production companies: Topic Studios, Fruit Tree, Rego Park, , Extreme Emotions
Distributed by Searchlight Pictures (United States), The Walt Disney Company (France)
Release dates : January 20, 2024 (Sundance), November 1, 2024 (United States), February 26 2025 (France)
Running time : 90 minutes

Photos and video : Boris Colletier / Mulderville