Movies - A real pain : Now Available on VOD Everywhere, Jesse Eisenberg’s Brilliant, Soul-Searching Odyssey Through Comedy, Grief, and History

By Mulder, 31 december 2024

With A Real Pain, audiences witness a bold cinematic blend of sharp wit, deep emotion and the inescapable weight of history. This buddy comedy-drama, available on VOD everywhere from today, is Jesse Eisenberg's second feature as writer-director, following his debut with When You Finish Saving the World. Yet A Real Pain is not just another independent film; it's a deeply personal project that manages to marry personal anecdotes with broader historical reflections in a way rarely seen in contemporary cinema. An international co-production between Poland and the USA, the film has already received critical acclaim, with the American Film Institute and the National Board of Review naming it one of the ten best films of 2024.

A Real Pain revolves around the story of two American Jewish cousins: David, played by Jesse Eisenberg himself, and Benji, played by the ever-charismatic Kieran Culkin. The two cousins, mismatched in temperament and life choices, embark on a seemingly straightforward trip to Poland to honor their deceased grandmother. What ensues is a complex exploration of family ties, personal struggles and generational trauma, all set against the contrasting backdrop of modern Poland and its haunting historical landmarks. Jesse Eisenberg, who has Polish ancestors, has spent years wondering how to confront and reconcile his personal identity with the great historical narratives of his ancestors. The film is therefore not only an artistic endeavor, but also a personal catharsis, a way for him to ask difficult questions about identity, grief and belonging.

Jesse Eisenberg drew inspiration for this story from real-life experiences, including a pivotal trip he made to Poland over twenty years ago. On that trip, he visited the house where his aunt had lived before the Holocaust displaced her family. The idea that this could have been his life, his home, his world, stayed with him. These memories laid the foundations for A Real Pain, which took nearly fifteen years to materialize into a coherent, captivating narrative. The film's nuanced portrait of Poland is distinguished precisely by the fact that Eisenberg sought to present a side of the country that American audiences rarely see. Instead of focusing solely on its grim past, he captures its vibrant, dynamic present, aided by the cinematic expertise of Warsaw-born Michał Dymek, whose lens brings out both the beauty and the solemnity of Poland's landscapes.

The contrasting personalities of David and Benji are the driving force behind the film. Jesse Eisenberg plays David, an uptight, angst-ridden New Yorker who on the surface appears to have a well-ordered life, but in reality is struggling to find meaning and resolve his inner conflicts. Benji, played by Kieran Culkin, on the other hand, is a freewheeling, impulsive character whose charm and unpredictability often mask deeper emotional wounds. Their dynamic is authentic and relatable, in large part because it's rooted in the real complexity of family relationships - the love, unspoken tensions and unresolved baggage that inevitably resurface in moments of loss and reflection. Kieran Culkin's performance was widely praised by critics as a career-defining performance, oscillating between moments of hilarity and heartbreaking vulnerability. In fact, Kieran Culkin was initially reluctant to accept the role so soon after completing his celebrated performance as Roman Roy in Succession. However, Eisenberg's poignant script, coupled with the gentle persuasion of producer Emma Stone, finally convinced him to stay, and the audience is all the richer for it.

One of the most striking aspects of A Real Pain is the way it uses humor as a survival mechanism for its characters. Jesse Eisenberg's script, though tight and precise, leaves room for improvisation, especially for Kieran Culkin, whose natural comic instincts shine through in the scenes where Benji interacts with the group of tourists. In one memorable moment, Benji turns a somber visit to a World War II memorial into impromptu role-playing, assigning the group members different roles as soldiers and airplanes. The scene, as Jesse Eisenberg recalled, was largely improvised and added a layer of levity that contrasted beautifully with the heaviness of the historical setting. Yet even in its moments of levity, the film never loses sight of the underlying theme: the question of what real pain is. This question lies at the heart of David's journey. How do his personal struggles - his anxiety, his sense of inadequacy - compare with the unfathomable suffering endured by previous generations? Eisenberg masterfully leaves this question open, inviting viewers to ponder it long after the credits roll.

The supporting cast further enriches the film's narrative. Will Sharpe delivers a memorable performance as James, the tour guide who becomes both a source of comic relief and a philosophical shield for Benji. Sharpe, known for his role in The White Lotus, which earned him an Emmy nomination, brings a quiet gravitas to James, who is portrayed as an outsider deeply fascinated by Jewish history, but who often oversteps his bounds in his attempts to connect with the group's experience. Jennifer Grey, in a surprise role as Marsha, brings depth and warmth to a character rediscovering her roots after a turbulent personal life. Her scenes with Kieran Culkin are particularly touching, as they hint at the possibility of unexpected bonds, even in the midst of grief and chaos.

Beyond its excellent performances, A Real Pain also stands out for its unique musical score, composed entirely of piano pieces by Chopin. Performed by Israeli-Canadian pianist Tzvi Erez, the score adds a layer of sophistication and poetry to the film. Unlike traditional scores that directly underscore the emotions of a scene, Chopin's music in A Real Pain serves as a thoughtful commentary, as if offering an outsider's perspective on the characters' inner turmoil.

Shooting in real Polish locations, including the rarely-represented Majdanek concentration camp, was a bold choice that added authenticity and gravity to the film. Eisenberg was initially told that it would be virtually impossible to shoot at Majdanek, but his persistence paid off. The result is a haunting sequence where the silence of the place speaks louder than any dialogue. Crew members have described the experience of filming as deeply moving, with Grey recounting how she was so overwhelmed by emotion during one scene that she had to leave the set.

As A Real Pain continues its journey through international markets and heads towards its streaming release on Hulu in the U.S. in mid-January 2025, it leaves an indelible mark as a film that dares to ask big questions while never losing sight of the small, intimate moments that make life both painful and beautiful. Whether seen as a poignant buddy comedy or a deeper meditation on grief and legacy, A Real Pain offers something for everyone: laughter, tears and, above all, reflection. Now available on VOD, A Real Pain invites viewers around the world to embark on a journey through history, humor and the human heart, a journey as unforgettable as it is profound.

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